Dan Cooley's Blog, page 17

Fighting Islamic Terrorists – diplomacy or weapons?

danielcooleyblog:

Some great food for thought – needs an hour, good friends on each side, and a cup of Starbucks.

Originally posted on which god saves:

Diplomacy or weapons.  I get so tired of hearing these choices – like they are all we have.

Conservatives say – the number one job of the government is to protect it’s people by killing the enemy.

Liberals say – negotiate – war doesn’t solve anything.

(yes – these are generalizations.  please recognize that.)

But there are problems with both.

In the case of Islamic terrorists –

my main question for the liberals is – how do you negotiate with someone who wants to kill you?  I mean, really, is there a middle ground between life and death that one can negotiate to?

my main questions for the conservatives is – do you really think you can kill all of them?

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A devotional for your kids this week: Chapter 15 from Bizarre Bible Stories 2!

The Madman Chariot Driver

Scripture Passage: 2 Kings 9

So What? So you can overcome fear with obedience!

[anything in brackets are notes for parents]

Do you remember the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal? Do you remember who was upset at Elijah for what he had done? Do you remember her name? [Queen Jezebel]

It’s possible to trust and obey God when we’re frightened. Even Jesus was troubled before going to the cross. Being scared isn’t sin. When we conquer our fear and obey God, in spite of our fear, that’s obedience. And obedience results in victory!

LET’S CONQUER OUR FEARS…

Israel was going through an extremely rough time. Queen Jezebel had killed most of the priests, pastors, and prophets of God. The people were worshipping a false God called Baal. Elijah, a prophet of God, challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to a showdown. When it was over, Baal hadn’t shown up, but God did and the 450 prophets of Baal died that day. That would be the end of the story except for one person – Queen Jezebel.

Ahab was king, but he wasn’t as powerful as Queen Jezebel. Jezebel worshipped Baal, she loved the prophets who died, and she hated Elijah. She was so powerful and terrifying, that when Elijah heard that she wanted him dead, he ran! He traveled until he was nearly dead. Elijah, who killed 450 prophets of Baal, who believed in God, ran from one woman. [You can read more about that story in the first Bizarre Bible Stories]

Have you ever wanted something someone else had? What was it?

Jezebel scared off God’s greatest prophet of the time – Elijah. She not only knew how to run off whom she didn’t like – she also knew how to get what she wanted. One day King Ahab was pouting. When Queen Jezebel asked what was wrong, Ahab said, “I wanted the farm next to our castle. I tried to buy it; the selfish owner won’t sell it. He said it had been in his family for years and he wants to keep it in the family. But I want it!”

Queen Jezebel said, “Don’t worry about that farm, Ahab. I’ll get it for you.” Do you know what she did? Jezebel had the owner of the farm and his sons all killed so she could steal the farm for her husband. You wouldn’t want her for your neighbor.

Do you have to obey someone you don’t like?

One day God sent a prophet to appoint a new king. The reign of Ahab and Jezebel was finally going to end. Where would God find a person strong enough to go up against Queen Jezebel? Even the great prophet Elijah had run from her. She had killed hundreds of people who believed in God. [1 Kings 18:4] She coveted power and killed all who got in her way. She was a terrifying tyrant. Who would God find to follow Him against her?

God found Jehu. Jehu was a general in the army. God had a prophet pull Jehu aside; pour oil on his head and say, “God wants you to be the next king!” Pouring oil on Jehu’s head was God’s way of showing Jehu that God’s power was going to flow through him. Jehu could now depend on God to protect him from Jezebel – but would he? Would Jehu be brave enough to confront Jezebel?

When the officers in the army heard the prophet had poured oil on his head, they blew their trumpets and yelled, “Jehu is king! Jehu is king!” There would be no backing out for Jehu now.

Do you know anyone who drives too fast? Do you think it would be fun to ride or drive a police car and go as fast as you wanted? [YES!]

Jehu said, “If the army is with me then don’t go to the castle and tell Queen Jezebel what happened. I want to surprise her!” Jehu wasn’t going to run away. He was going to run right at Jezebel.

Jehu got into his chariot, strapped on his seat belt, set the radio for the local Christian rock station, and hit the gas. Actually, his chariot would have looked like a large two-wheeled cart pulled by horses – looking a bit like Santa driving his sleigh on land. Only this was no normal sleigh. Most chariots had one to four horses pulling them. Jehu’s was probably a rare six-horse chariot pulled with three pairs of horses. This was an extremely fast chariot – almost impossible to control. It was like trying to fly a jet down a crowded neighborhood street. [Due to how fast he was driving, they knew it was his chariot. If Jehu lived today, he’d have a Ferrari!]

There was a lookout standing on the castle tower. He yelled down, “Hey, I see troops coming!” A short time later he yelled, “It must be Jehu – the guy in front is driving like a madman!” [2 Kings 9:20]

One of Jezebel’s wicked sons went out to confront Jehu. Someone shot him with an arrow, and he fell and died in the neighbor’s farm. God made certain Jezebel’s son died in the very farm she had stolen.

What do you think will happen to Jezebel?

Jehu rushed up to the castle. He could see Jezebel looking out an upstairs window at him. She was shouting at Jehu, calling him a murderer. Evil people often accuse others of what they have been doing. She had killed more innocent people than anyone alive, and she called Jehu a murderer!

Jehu yelled, “Hey, up in the castle, who is on my side?” A couple people looked out and yelled, “We are!”

“Then throw the Queen out the window!” Jehu yelled.

They did! They threw the wicked witch queen, Jezebel, out the window. Then it got gross.

Jehu rode his six-horse chariot over Jezebel’s dead body. Later, when they went outside to bury her, there was nothing left. Wild dogs had eaten her. Yuck. First the window, then the chariot, then the dogs – why did God make her death so gross?

God had said Jezebel was so wicked she didn’t deserve to be buried. [1 Kings 21:23] God was right.

SO, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

OVERCOME FEAR WITH OBEDIENCE

For some reason, the prophets of Baal didn’t scare Elijah, but Jezebel did. For some reason Jezebel didn’t frighten Jehu, but other things would. Just because we believe in Jesus, and we know God is all-powerful, doesn’t mean we won’t get scared. When someone wants what we have and is willing to hurt us to get it – that’s scary!

It’s possible to trust God, and obey Him, even when we’re frightened. Jonah was scared to go to Nineveh, Daniel was scared to go into the lions’ den, and even Jesus was troubled before going to the cross. Being scared isn’t sin. It’s only when we follow our fear and disobey that it’s sin. [Like when Jonah ran away and ended up in the fish.] When we conquer our fear and obey God, in spite of our fear, that’s obedience. And obedience results in victory!

REMEMBER: YOU’VE GOT HIS WORD ON IT

Deuteronomy 6:2 You and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life.

Deuteronomy 13:4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.

Psalms 111:10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!

1 Samuel 12:14 “Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.

Iran Nuclear Deal Predicted

In 2010, author Joel Rosenberg wrote a fiction work, The Twelfth Iman, about a nuclear deal between the USA, its allies, and Iran. Sound familiar? And, for my “less conservative” Canadian friends, you will like it. Don’t assume because Rosenberg is an American believer in the Bible, that he follows the typical conservative views or storyline. He probably doesn’t even own a Glock, which makes me wonder about his salvation.

The Good: Rosenberg can write. He won the Gold Medallion for Best Novel in 2006. He has made the NY Times Bestseller List. He is a graduate of Syracuse and does impeccable research. As a result, the book is a great read – although it did take me a few chapters to get into it. A bit too much back-story for me.

The Bad: There isn’t much not to like here – except that I’m not sure I’d want to live through all that happens in this book. I’m hoping his prophetic luck ended with the deal.

The Ugly: It’s a shame it came out ten years ago. It is SO NOW. It’s perfect read for April 2015, but that doesn’t help Joel or Amazon much. I got mine free from the library.

The more you tighten your grip, Satan …

danielcooleyblog:

Love the CS Lewis quote used in this blog. “Now it may surprise you to learn that in His efforts to get permanent possession of a soul, He relies on the troughs even more than on the peaks; some of His special favourites have gone through longer and deeper troughs than anyone else.” Happy reading.

Originally posted on which god saves:

The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.

Just in case you don’t recognize it, the quote above is from Princess Leia in Star Wars.

The title – that’s from me.

Now it may surprise you to learn that in His efforts to get permanent possession of a soul, He relies on the troughs even more than on the peaks; some of His special favourites have gone through longer and deeper troughs than anyone else.

And that line is from C. S. Lewis, in the Screwtape Letters.  If you’re not familiar with it, it’s Screwtape (a devil) talking to his nephew (a devil in training) about how God uses the low points in people’s lives.  And how God’s special people seem to go through longer and deeper troughs than most.

Suffering for Being a Christian

1Pe 4:12 Dear friends, do not be…

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Bizarre Pastor Story

John Shuck, a Presbyterian pastor, doesn’t believe in the God of the Bible. And yet, he claims to be a Christian. Which makes me wonder, “What is a Christian?”

He wrote on an atheist website what he does believe. It goes like this, in his words:

“Religion is a human construct
The symbols of faith are products of human cultural evolution
Jesus may have been an historical figure, but most of what we know about him is in the form of legend
God is a symbol of myth-making and not credible as a supernatural being or force
The Bible is a human product as opposed to special revelation from a divine being
Human consciousness is the result of natural selection, so there’s no afterlife”

OK, everyone has a right to their own beliefs. But, if you don’t believe in the Bible, or God, or Jesus or an afterlife, why would you want to be a pastor? Why would you want to be called a Christian? I don’t get it. Besides, this would take ALL the fun out of the Bible Stories. The Bible is just… boring fake stories then. He goes on to write:

“In short, I regard the symbols of Christianity from a non-supernatural point of view. And yet, even though I hold those beliefs, I am still a proud minister. But I don’t appreciate being told that I’m not truly a Christian.”

I like writing Bizarre Bible Stories much more than Bizarre Pastor Stories.

John Calvin, of Presbyterian fame, must be rolling over in his grave. But no, there IS an afterlife.

Could John be shouting obscenities down from heaven? Is that allowed? No?

Curiosity being what it is, I wondered what a normal Sunday service must be like at the church where he is pastor. What do they read if the Bible is only a legend? It seems like any “good book” would do. What do they sing about if there is no Amazing Grace? Personally, I’d miss Bohemian Rhapsody – my assumption it’s banned since it’s about the afterlife. But we don’t sing Queen often in our church anyway. Back on topic – they are active in social reforms, and there is still an operation to oversee, so they must have an offering. Is that what makes it “Christian?” I sure hope not. He gives a hint what his church is like when he writes,

“Someone quipped that my congregation is BYOG: Bring Your Own God. I use that and invite people to “bring their own God” — or none at all. While the symbol “God” is part of our cultural tradition, you can take it or leave it or redefine it to your liking. That permission to be theological do-it-yourselfers is at the heart of belief-less Christianity.”

The thing is, it isn’t belief-less. It’s belief-different. Not believing in an afterlife means you believe there are no eternal rewards or justice for your actions. Not believing in a divine authority means you believe you are your own authority. My kids would have loved that.

Bring Your Own God is curiously close to the lie the serpent told Eve, “You will be like God.”

Same preaching, different preacher.

It’s the same lie. Spread it if you want – shoot most of the planet probably agrees – but why from the pulpit of a Presbyterian church?

That word “Christian.” I do not think it means what you think it means.

MUGGINGS CHANGING LIVES! Violence for Charity.

danielcooleyblog:

Violence 4 Charity.

Originally posted on latetoeveryparty:

  

If you follow this blog than you have a dark, twisted sense of humor. You should definitely check out these MUGGINGS.  You can also click HEREto purchase a mugging directly.

You’ll like it. Promise.

What started out as a poorly planned last-ditch effort to raise money for a plane ticket to Haiti has spiraled into something much bigger. It’s weird how often that happens in life. Do something on whim, say something stupid and suddenly it’s out of your control and taken on a life of its own. I have covered my plane ticket and decided to continue the surprisingly successful muggings as a hobby.

100% of money raised goes directly to Maranatha Children’s Ministries in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This Christ-based ministry provides education, nutrition and employment for over 400 Haitians yearly. I have visited many times and fallen in love with the leaders, staff and kids. I returned from…

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Unbroken: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good: This is easily the best biography I’ve ever read. Time named it the “top nonfiction book of the year.” Laura describes events as if you are watching them – living them. In this real life Series of Unfortunate Events, there is surprising inspiration. If you read one book this year, you won’t go wrong choosing Unbroken.

The Bad: When my wife JO first gave me the book, I read a chapter and gave up. I’m an extremely lazy reader, and it just didn’t grab me. Then we went to the movie against my objections, and I decided to give it another shot. Once in a few chapters I couldn’t put it down – no more skimming, I wanted every word.

BTW, reading the book AFTER watching them move worked out better for me. The book is much darker in the bad times, and much brighter in the good. I’d have been disappointed if I’d watched the movie after reading the book, but this way I enjoyed both.

The Ugly: A note about the movie. Before seeing it, I had read that much was left out from the end of the book. Somehow that was suppose to make the movie lousy. I watched the movie, loved it, and thought they were wrong.

Then I read the book.

They were right.

As much as I loved the movie, after reading Unbroken, looking back on the movie it seemed flat. It’s black-and-white in my memory in comparison. The worst of it is that the movie misses the main point of the book. The movie leaves one with the impression that the end of the war was the redemption the Japanese POWs needed to start a new life. Nothing could be further from the truth. For most of the captives, the end of the war was the beginning of a new hell back in the states as they strove to start a new life without dignity and with PTSD. So, in a sense, the movie, as good as it was, leaves you with a lie. The book continues through the hell of hatred, flashbacks and resentment to true redemption. Don’t miss it.

My favorite quotes in the book weren’t written by Laura Hillenbrand, but are the quotes she chooses record. Here are a few of them:

• “Darkness doesn’t hide the eyes of God” – Billy Graham, p.380

• Louie’s letter to Matsuhiro Wantanabe is worth the price of the book alone. I won’t put it in so as to spoil the book, but it comes on pages 404-405. These words of Louie are the binding of the entire book – the reason the rest of his story is worth telling. It is a shame they left it out of the movie completely. These words have no great meaning without his previous life story, but his story has no meaning without these words.

• Resentment… “nails every one of us onto the cross of his ruined past.” – Jean Amery

Die Trying: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good: It’s a Jack Reacher novel. If MacGyver and Jack Bower could have a kid, it would be Reacher.

The Bad: I liked the first book, Killing Floor better. Lee Child is an amazing writer, but this wasn’t one of his best stories. For the first 75% of the book it seemed to me like Reacher was just along for the ride. “Come ON,” I kept thinking, “Kill somebody already!” Then he did, and I was happy again.

The Ugly: Unlike Killing Floor, I ended up skipping some of this book. It’s worth the read to stay with the series, just not my favorite by Child.

For a series that improves with the second book, try Bizarre Bible Stories! 2.

Happy Valentines!

We’ve given up on a Christmas letter. So – here is our Valentines letter, mostly written by Micah. Let the idiocy and merriment begin.

Max: Still Mama Cooley’s favorite, even though he poops outside. It’s weird.

Mama and Papa Cooley: Well they became grandparents, again in 2014, which is a bonus, I guess. The new favorite kids are the grandkids now, so that sucks for us actual kids. I have to assume there is no small amount of poetic justice in watching your kids have kids and thinking, “Haha! Revenge!”

In less grandparently news, Papa Cooley has doubled the amount of books (two!) he has published with Bizarre Bible Stories 2. We are presently in talks with Universal and Disney about movie adaptations starring Emma Watson and Chris Hemsworth [we wish]. Not that dad knows who they are. The simplest way to order is through Amazon.com or the publisher, HeritageBuilders.com.

Megan and Jon: Megan is heading up the 2015 mission trip to Haiti, well on her way to accomplishing her goal of being the “world’s worst financially backed philanthropist.” That’s pretty cool. Though if Jon actually finishes university by next winter (like he’s on track to do). . . nope – they’ll still be the world’s poorest philanthropists.

Cooley’s – setting world records even after the name change.

Jon will be graduating in December 2015 with a degree in communication. He still doesn’t talk much.

Megan will be starting clinicals towards her degree in Nursing. We all try and stay healthy around her.

Amanda and Jake: Early this year, Amanda and Jake got a puppy after Oliver was born. It was adorable and hyper and the perfect dog for Oliver. Everyone thought it was a brilliant idea for keeping the kid entertained. It wasn’t.

Two weeks later Amanda told us she was pregnant. Along came Emerson Tillman Franks on Nov. 21.

I encouraged them to get that dog. It’s my fault they now have two kids and a dog with enough energy to power upstate New York. I’m not sorry.

Micah and Caleb: Am I the only one that thinks it’s weird how I group everyone by couples, and then I just lump me and Caleb together the same way? We’re still single, in case you were wondering. Thanks.

We’re doing good. Caleb’s taking a year doing some discipleship thing at Camp Peniel, near Austin. So if you’re around there, go annoy him. Like shut off his hot water when he’s showering and stuff. That’d be brilliant.

I’m back at UNM after taking a year off to do Air Force things. I hope to graduate next year with Jon. My degree is in English. I still can’t spell much.

Micah for all.

10 Things About Micah Cooley :)

danielcooleyblog:

Best… Blog… Ever.

Originally posted on latetoeveryparty:

My brother is turning 20-something. Micah is possibly the strangest most amazing person I have ever met (other than my mom, dad, sister, other brother and husband). I love him to pieces. He likes tie-dye, good music, and sarcasm. Those are the only things I understand about him. There are many things that I and the rest of society don’t understand.

These are the words that come to my mind when I think of Micah:

1. Sleep. I don’t remember Micah when he first came home as baby. I think he completely slept through the first year of his life. I never heard him scream or cry. He would continue to sleep through the years of his life if it wasn’t for Oreo’s, Pop Tarts, video games or books. No one can sleep as much as Micah. This includes comatose people.

“Last night I had a dream I held and…

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