Review: Stargate SG-1 the 10th and Final Season

Well this might be a hard review, seeing as this is kinda hard. I guess I better start by saying how I got hooked on this show. I had seen a couple of episodes of season 1 back in 1997 or so, and thought it was ok show, i just could not get into for a couple of reasons. One being it was shown only on Showtime and we didn't get that channel, and then when it was on syndication it was never on at the same time. So after getting out of school, I wanted to find a good Sci-Fi show that I could get into that would be something different than Star Trek. Well I got my chance as the SciFi Channel was having a marathon, and I instantly got hooked!! This show had action, story, and something lacking in Sci-Fi, Comedy! The characters made fun of things that happened today, and star Richard Dean Anderson was hilarious in weird quirky way. Now, ten years later the saga of the weekly adventures comes to an end and it goes out on a bang!

The season picks up from the cliffhanger episode from season 9, where the forces of the Ori come to the Milky Way galaxy to convert everyone its religion of Origin. Its kicks of the search for the one thing that can save the galaxy from them, the Sangraal known throught ages as the Holy Grail. This search leads not only in this galaxy, but to the much anticipated crossover episode where the team goes to the City of Atlantis. Along the way come alien monsters, virus, and an old friend coming by for a visit: that being the return of former series star Richard Dean Anderson for two great episodes. One of them being the spectaluar and hilarious 200th episode, where the writers spoof everthing from zombies, the wizard of oz, star trek, and so much other sci-fi material. All this leading to wonderful send off to the final episode that truly is a fan's desire to watch. Here is a hint, the team gets stuck on a spaceship for 50 years and have deal with each other. But the journey doesn't end there, it leads to first of many Stargate SG-1 movies to come.

So if you have never watched any of this series, then you have really missed out. Its not your typical sci-fi/action series. If you get chance try and watch an episode or two, you'll enjoy it.

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Book Review: To God Be The Glory

Title: To God Be The Glory

Author: Dr. Mike Privett

Pub: BJU Press

Well this is the beginning of an interesting set of reviews! Over my vacation I decided to read two books on the same subject to kind of compare what two different camps or shall I call it points of view. So I'll start part 1 of this with coming from the camp that I grew up with and seem pretty familiar with, I don't even know how to describe it but I would call it the traditional conservative fundamentalist for better use of terms.
I first glanced through this book when I was in college, I was taking a class called Biblical Leadership and we had to write a paper that our teacher called Glorifying God in the Church. It was basically summarizing what this class was all about and we had to take what we had learned in class and search out for further principles in God's word on how we bring glory to God in the local church. The professor recommended checking out this dissertation from the library and getting some ideas. Now in college I was not the type of person to go and get a book that every teacher recommended, but I really enjoyed this teacher and really trusted his opinion, so I went to the library and checked it out. I was really encouraged by it and found myself writing down some of the statements and really thinking about them. Well I kept thinking this is something that really needs to be in book format, and sure enough about 6 months after taking this class sure enough BJU Press put this out.
So what's it about? What brings glory to God in the church? Privett feels that there are 6 important elements: Evangelism, instruction, Fellowship, Worship, Prayer, and Equipping Believers. According to Privett these 6 elements should each function together and balanced to maintain a God glorifying ministry. He feels that the aim of the church should be fore the center of the target, where all of these come together. But what are these elements and how are they displayed. I don't want to go through these, you can do that yourself, but let me try and summarize these quickly.
The first element is Evangelism, and put simply it is the witnessing of the gospel to those that need it. This is something that can be done through many ways such as personal evangelism, indirect evangelism, church planting, and missions. This something that doesn't have to be a set time of the week, but that the body should be doing at all times.
The second is Instruction, and put simply it is exposing the meaning of God's word. Bible preaching that relays on careful study of God's word and making the truths of it simple for us today. There are also other ways of getting this out, but preaching should be one of the primary ways.
The third is Fellowship, and put simply it is the gathering of believers together. This can be accomplished through getting together and meeting the needs of others. This can be something that is formal and informal, or facilitative.
The fourth is Worship, and put simply it is to come together and showing or acknowledging worth, value, or esteem to someone that is worthy, namely that being the one and true God of the Bible. This can be through services, music, and giving other the Lord's ordinances of the Supper and Baptism.
The fifth is Prayer, and put simply it is the obedient act of a believer bringing his confession, praise, and requests to our Heavenly Father in dependence on Him. This can be done personally and corporately as a body of believers.
And finally Equipping Believers, and put simply it is helping a believer in his growth and making him ready for all points of life. This instructing and perfecting that we all need in our life. This can be done through Bible studies, Bible Training opportunities, one-on-one discipleship, and other forms.
Six simple and easy elements, but the saddest thing is when these are all out of balanced, and then everything is thrown off. If a church puts more emphasis on instruction then evangelism is hurt. And the analogy could go on and on. But Privett has a point, that all of these need to be on target.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s simple and to the point, and its written by someone who knows what he is talking about. Too many of the church marketing books are all about a plan and results based on that church and this one is based on God's Word for its source material.

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Woodlands Camp 2007

Well here is a short snippet of our Teen Camp week and some of my thoughts on the Woodlands Camp in Cleveland, GA.

Now, I have to be honest as teen I never attended Summer Camp, so my thoughts come only as sponsor. I have in the past visited a couple of camps to see what there ministries have to offer. And the goal of each camp seems to be to minister to the needs of young people and to help them grow in their walk with Christ. But I have never been on really for the "camp" thing in college.

But the Woodlands always seems to be a refreshing pace to the camp life. The Woodlands is really laid back in the approach to camp ministry. They want to keep the focus on one thing: Christ. They also want to make sure that teens understand that Christianity is something that is not suppose to be boring, but to be fun. At the Woodlands they really know how to have fun! their games are aimed at that, their skits are the funniest I have ever seen, and there T-shirts are just fun to look at.

They have a great staff there are always working hard for the Lord and truly have a servants heart. They are always working to improve the camp, and they have some really cool plans for this place. And the Food is pretty good for camp food.

They also have good selection of speakers. They choose men that bring messages from God's Word that challenges, encourages, and Christ centered. Scriptural truths are not watered down, there is no pressure for a decision to made from pressure but only as God truly works on the heart.

Book Review: Not By Chance

Title: Not By Chance
Author: Layton Talbert
Pub: BJU Press

WoW this is a late book review. I started reading this book in the summer of 2003 when I went home for the summer. Well I had trouble really grasping some of the truths that Dr. Talbert was getting at. This book seemed a little too deep for me, but i got about 1/3 through this book before I gave up a little bit on it. But I gleaned from it really encouraged me on learning to really trust a sovereign God, thus the subtitle of this book.

But Dr. Talbert takes on a survey through both the Old and New Testament and thru Church History to really show us that God is in control of all circumstances. That seems to be something that many of us have trouble really learn to grasp about the character and nature of God. I think thats why in recent years there have been several books written about the sovereignty of God, its something that can easily be twisted and corrupted. Thats why we really need to study this out, to get a thorough understanding of what it really means to trust a God that is totally in control of all things.

I think the real highlights of this book are the chapters that deal with passages that God is in control, yet not visible or audible to the people in Biblical accounts. Such as chapter 5 which is a case study of the life of Joseph in Genesis. Something that I had never noticed, was in Gensis 37 when all the "bad stuff" is happening to Joseph, there is no mention of God in what is happening. Remember that God had given Joseph a dream and a plan, was this not the plan? Nope, God was using all of these things that were happening to accomplish His perfect will but the fact that God is there thru all of these circumstances. Chapter 8 is also an indepth study to the other book that does not mention God, but is loaded with his finger prints, the book of Esther.

So here is just a brief look at whats in this book. Its worth a good read, along with studying the passages that go along with each chapter. If you are struggling with this concept then this is definately the book for you, i recommend it for you.

Enjoy

Blaine

What I Am Up To: More Yard Work

here are a couple of pics from some of the yards that I do. These Pics where taken in the early spring, thats why things are so green.

Quick Summer Update

Hey there all out, sorry for the lack of updates this summer, but it seems that I am super busy. And do I mean super busy. Work has been driving me crazy, but that is a good thing, right??? Well with all the hot weather here in Greenwood, the yard care business a slown down just a little bit, but the nice thing is that it has given me the chance to catch up on some other projects that I have been meaning to do around here and some other places. Plus too there has been a vaction, a trip to summer camp with the teens, and a bunch of other stuff. So, this week I will try and catch up on some stuff, and probably included some pictures from my new camera. So I hope you all are doing well

In Sci Fi, no one ever dies

I think about a month or so I put a post on here about how I thought it was sad that the writers of Stargate Atlantis killed off my favorite character. Well some people have become so obsessed with this show that they started a campaign to get the character back. They have a huge website, and then in the late March during the big Stargate convention in Vancouver that they staged a protest. This protest was a pretty big deal as all of the canadian news shows followed it. The cast and crew even came out to talk to the protesters about this. Even on of the main producers came out and made a deal with the protesters that if they got major attention by ET or Access Hollywood that he would commission 2 episodes to bring back Carson Beckett. Well check it out, he kept his word, Gateworld Report here. This has been a pretty big deal in the fandom. Look at this: Today Show at Rockafeller Center

What I Am Doing: New Projects

Something I thought that I would do is to show everyone what are some of the odd jobs that I do for folks. One thing I do like about my little side business allows me the opportunity to try new things and look at what ideas that I could bring to make my future home look better.


Well yesterday I got a project from my neighbors Tony and Lori. They have a patch next to there drive way where for the last 2 years I have tried to get grass to grow, but with no success. Well this an area that people walk and track in lots of mud. Well they had an idea they brought to me and I decided that it would it would look really great too! What we had in mind was to tear up the grass mud area and put in tile bricks next to the drive way and put in a walk way. Well after about 5 hours of labor and leveling out and carefully placing and laying down and what do we have? Well take a look.

So what do you think? I know I need to go back and fix a couple of little spots here and there.
There are many more projects and hope to post some of them here and let you all know what I am doing. Enjoy!!!!!!!

Power In The Pulpit Conference

This past Monday I had the opportunity to take a trip down to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. One of the blessings of living only 90 or so minutes from there is easy access to a great library and also now this, great opportunities to meet new people and to be preached. One thing that I enjoy about being out of school is that I can broaded my expreriences and meet new people that might have a different view point on somethings but we can agree on is the transforming power of the gospel.
Well I went down to Southern seminary for this conferences and i was truly blessed by the presentations given. The main speaker was Dr. Jim Shaddix pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Denver, CO. He spoke for three session on the Preaching in Worship. He brought out some wonderful principles on how everything should culminate with the preaching of God's Word. The centrality of God's Word should be at the center of the service.
The second speaker was Dr. Hershael York pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church of Frankfort, KY. He spoke for two sessions on the importance of preporation of a sermon. He had some great thoughts on areas of preaching that I have struggled with in my life. Namely the transitional statement being crucial to the delievery style.
And the final speaker was Dr. Albert Mohler president of Southern Seminary. He spoke on the importance of making the message revelent and important to the congregation. But one thing that I was great impressed with was Dr. Mohler himself. I have heard about him alot, read some comments in articles and blogs, and heard about some of the things that he was stood for. It was about 2 years ago I read a book on the SBC and read some facts about Southern that really concerned me (this book was written in the 80's and is no longer published or available) and he has turned the school from very liberal to conservative in its theology.
But this conference was exactly what I needed and was very encouraged by it. I plan on going to it again next year and the big conference in 2008 there.

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