A fellow Oregonian blogger Crallspace mentioned on his blog that he uses sitemeter. I signed up for it and its interesting. Here is what I have found.
1) For some reason my work ISP comes up as being in Bethesda, MD even though I am near Salem, Oregon.
2) Most of my hits come from either my profile (likely a blogger reading a comment I made on a blog) or from Stupid Church People Thanks Steve and Josh. Without you guys I would be totally unknown.
3) I have visitors from primarily the US and Canada and not overseas. Maybe I need to put up some red herring pseudo porn to get more readers.
I cannot tell who is from where, who they are. I am not spying. So please dont hesitate to keep reading. I just find it interesting.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Meltdown
I have had sort of a meltdown of late. I have been asking questions that Christians arent supposed to ask. And reading interesting blogs by people who are deconverting or have done so. Here is where I am at:
I still believe in Christ. I would have to say that I believe more because in my heart I know what I believe to be true than because anyone or any book tells me to. I believe he was really here, died, rose again and took away my sins. I believe the gospels (the first four books of the NT) are fairly accurate and should be a basis for belief
I am confused by the Old testament and some of Pauls teachings and wonder if they are tainted. I can no longer call myself a biblical innerantist. Is that even a word?
I think now that the Bible is 66 books not one and each one should be looked at individually. Why trust the catholics who put them all together. Now I am not trying to shake anyones faith, but I am saying I question some things. That doesnt shake my faith at all.
Please dont Bible bomb me.
I think the inner witness of God is probably more real to me than religion. He has been there for me I believe. I dont think I would be alive today if somethign hadnt guided me. I believe that somethign to be Christ.
I know I am speaking heresy but arent there any Christians out there that ever ask questions about the Bible.
Some may say I am falling away. I think not.
Some use the Bible to justify war, genocide, torture, putting down women, slavery, etc. I am tired of running circles around why it didnt really mean that and ask why do we believe it. Not God, but the weirdness.
Anybody have a clue what I am talking about because I am not sure I do.
I still believe in Christ. I would have to say that I believe more because in my heart I know what I believe to be true than because anyone or any book tells me to. I believe he was really here, died, rose again and took away my sins. I believe the gospels (the first four books of the NT) are fairly accurate and should be a basis for belief
I am confused by the Old testament and some of Pauls teachings and wonder if they are tainted. I can no longer call myself a biblical innerantist. Is that even a word?
I think now that the Bible is 66 books not one and each one should be looked at individually. Why trust the catholics who put them all together. Now I am not trying to shake anyones faith, but I am saying I question some things. That doesnt shake my faith at all.
Please dont Bible bomb me.
I think the inner witness of God is probably more real to me than religion. He has been there for me I believe. I dont think I would be alive today if somethign hadnt guided me. I believe that somethign to be Christ.
I know I am speaking heresy but arent there any Christians out there that ever ask questions about the Bible.
Some may say I am falling away. I think not.
Some use the Bible to justify war, genocide, torture, putting down women, slavery, etc. I am tired of running circles around why it didnt really mean that and ask why do we believe it. Not God, but the weirdness.
Anybody have a clue what I am talking about because I am not sure I do.
Monday, July 02, 2007
OK More why I hate "Internet Security Software"
It has been my experience that ISS (Internet Security Software) is mostly snake oil and is SEVERELY bloated. The name brand products can and will slow down your PC to a crawl. Normally firewalls will block your net access at some point and make your ISP want to reach through the phone and strangle you when you call and say your down. As a tech I have found that most infected PCs have some kind of big name software (i.e. Norton, MCafee) on them.
Trend is OK if you know what your doing and have more RAM than you need. apparenly none of them work with Vista (I think Vista sucks anyway). Norton and MCafee do more harm than good and are the cause of 50% of ISP support calls.
Trend is OK if you know what your doing and have more RAM than you need. apparenly none of them work with Vista (I think Vista sucks anyway). Norton and MCafee do more harm than good and are the cause of 50% of ISP support calls.
Some Tech Advice
OK. This is not normally a tech blog but I do work in IT and have for my entire professional life. I just want to share some of my advice on avoiding yuckware/spyware/viruses etc. this is not how to clean it if you get it. Nowadays the crapware is so advanced you are almost better off backing up your files formatting and reinstalling if that happens. I know I can disinfect a PC, but its a lot of work even for a tech. Your normal tools (spybot, adaware, etc) are not gonna save you. Here is how to protect yourself. Its mostly common sense.
1) Thou shalt not use Internet Explorer except on sites that force you. This is the main one. IE is full of holes, targeted and supports a lot of iffy technology. I use Mozilla Firefox unless I hit a site that absolutely requires IE. Not only is Firefox a superior browser but since it doesnt support active X, you are less likely to get infected. In my opinion, casual web browsing (not downloading, hackers, etc) is how
2) Thou shalt not run Limewire, Grokster, Imesh or other P2P tool. Yeah you may want to download music and I dont advise the paid sites because music should be free, but the majority of files on these things are fake and virus infected. If you must do this, get a seperate computer that you turn off when not in use just for this. Now if the music plays the file is clean and you can move it to your real computer.
3) Thou shalt not install smiley faces. Cute addins smileys, weatherbugs, purple monkeys, are almost all spyware of a sort. I even consider Yahoo spyware but not of a dangerous sort. If its free, its most likely adware.
4) Thou shalt not believe a web site that says its spyware free. Everything says that now. It means nothing
5) Thou shalt not surf porn. If you must, do what you do for music downloads. Use a dedicated computer and expect an infection. If you have sex without a condom, youll get a disease. Same goes for your computer
6) Thou shalt not feel safe because you have "internet security software" installed. Norton, McAfee, Trend, they all are some protection but they have two inherit problems (other than making your computer run like crap). 1) They dont help you until you have a virus. 2) The line between viruses and legitimate ads has been blurred. Dont waste your time and money with Norton, McAffee, etc. Its like the dept of homeland security It will terribly inconvenience you to make you feel safe
7) Thou shalt not hide problems from your techie friend. If you get an error, write it down and admit what you were doing. Your techie friend cant read your mind and decipher imaginary errors
8) Thou shalt keep Windows up to date. You can at least patch the holes they know of
9) Thou shalt not let others use your computer without knowing what they are doing. My wife let a friend use her PC once and the first thing she did was open up IE and infect away
10) Thou shalt not assume you are being hacked. You arent. It just doesnt happen to normal people.
OK so what do you do. Run a good free antivirus like AVG or Avast. Ask a tech, dont google free anti virus. Majorgeeks.com has both. If you have an old computer, run AVG, If you have a fast PC, Avast is a little better.
Dont bother with firewall software unless you are on dialup. DSL and cable modems usually are firewalls. Software firewalls may make you feel safer, but they normally just annoy and again, they cant help unless its already on there. If you dont understnad them, dont bother with them.
Do run Adaware and Spybot and Cleanup or Crap Cleaner once a week or if anything weird happens.(or your friend/child) uses your PC.
Dont assume that because you dont go anywhere bad, you are safe. You arent.
Take it for what its worth. I will answer tech emails but I am not your personal tech. I cant work wonders and I cant help you disinfect your PC (successfully)
1) Thou shalt not use Internet Explorer except on sites that force you. This is the main one. IE is full of holes, targeted and supports a lot of iffy technology. I use Mozilla Firefox unless I hit a site that absolutely requires IE. Not only is Firefox a superior browser but since it doesnt support active X, you are less likely to get infected. In my opinion, casual web browsing (not downloading, hackers, etc) is how
2) Thou shalt not run Limewire, Grokster, Imesh or other P2P tool. Yeah you may want to download music and I dont advise the paid sites because music should be free, but the majority of files on these things are fake and virus infected. If you must do this, get a seperate computer that you turn off when not in use just for this. Now if the music plays the file is clean and you can move it to your real computer.
3) Thou shalt not install smiley faces. Cute addins smileys, weatherbugs, purple monkeys, are almost all spyware of a sort. I even consider Yahoo spyware but not of a dangerous sort. If its free, its most likely adware.
4) Thou shalt not believe a web site that says its spyware free. Everything says that now. It means nothing
5) Thou shalt not surf porn. If you must, do what you do for music downloads. Use a dedicated computer and expect an infection. If you have sex without a condom, youll get a disease. Same goes for your computer
6) Thou shalt not feel safe because you have "internet security software" installed. Norton, McAfee, Trend, they all are some protection but they have two inherit problems (other than making your computer run like crap). 1) They dont help you until you have a virus. 2) The line between viruses and legitimate ads has been blurred. Dont waste your time and money with Norton, McAffee, etc. Its like the dept of homeland security It will terribly inconvenience you to make you feel safe
7) Thou shalt not hide problems from your techie friend. If you get an error, write it down and admit what you were doing. Your techie friend cant read your mind and decipher imaginary errors
8) Thou shalt keep Windows up to date. You can at least patch the holes they know of
9) Thou shalt not let others use your computer without knowing what they are doing. My wife let a friend use her PC once and the first thing she did was open up IE and infect away
10) Thou shalt not assume you are being hacked. You arent. It just doesnt happen to normal people.
OK so what do you do. Run a good free antivirus like AVG or Avast. Ask a tech, dont google free anti virus. Majorgeeks.com has both. If you have an old computer, run AVG, If you have a fast PC, Avast is a little better.
Dont bother with firewall software unless you are on dialup. DSL and cable modems usually are firewalls. Software firewalls may make you feel safer, but they normally just annoy and again, they cant help unless its already on there. If you dont understnad them, dont bother with them.
Do run Adaware and Spybot and Cleanup or Crap Cleaner once a week or if anything weird happens.(or your friend/child) uses your PC.
Dont assume that because you dont go anywhere bad, you are safe. You arent.
Take it for what its worth. I will answer tech emails but I am not your personal tech. I cant work wonders and I cant help you disinfect your PC (successfully)
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Female Friends
I am a straight married man but I have always related well to females. Even as a kid I was often friends with girls. Not exclusively. I had male friends (and still do) also. I have over the years developed a few close (almost family like) friendships with some females that I have known for years. I think this is OK. Perhaps non-traditional but OK. My wife is cool with it too and relates well to guys. I did a bit of searching online and discovered that secular web sites seem to promote this is OK but Churchie's seem to treat it as sinful and awful. I have never cheated on my wife. Never will. I view my female friends the same way as male friends and those I am very close to as I would a sister. I am an only child. One friend in particular I have known since I was 14 and is very much like a sister to me. I did have a crush on her for a while but that was years ago. So anyway. A friend of my wifes (who is female) said that it is sinful and should not be allowed. I have had people say that (pastors wifes mostly). Whats the problem. Why does it matter what parts my friends have (to put it crudely).
I think women tend to be more outgoing and since I am so introverted, I make friends with them easier. Could be it.
I have a friend who I have known for a little over a year. I actually consider her and her husband both friends and my wife knows them too. I have however known the woman longer and talked to her more. During some bad weather my friend allowed me to stay at her house a couple of days. At the time I lived 67 miles from work and over a mountain range. This was a very nice thing for them to do. Nothing in any way happend, or even got thought of happening. I thought nothing of it (except gratitude to my friend for saving me from crashing on the way home). This psycho religious nutball friend of my wifes found out and said I am probably commiting adultery or will and that I should never talk to this friend again. Especially since she is not "walking with the Lord" whatever that means.
Is my perspective so messed up and "worldly" or do I think that my wifes friend is a nut and most Churchies need to chill here.
I dont want to change the way I am just to please others who think I am sending the wrong message. I sure dont want to give up any friendships over it. I dont have a lot of friends. I sure dont need to lose any.
Oh I havent told my friend (the nice one who let me stay at her house) about this incident but I am sure she will get a good laugh out of it. Who knows, maybe she will read it here.
Anyway, I guess I am curious what do the rest of my new group (very diverse crows) of friends think about the whole men having female friends thing?
I think women tend to be more outgoing and since I am so introverted, I make friends with them easier. Could be it.
I have a friend who I have known for a little over a year. I actually consider her and her husband both friends and my wife knows them too. I have however known the woman longer and talked to her more. During some bad weather my friend allowed me to stay at her house a couple of days. At the time I lived 67 miles from work and over a mountain range. This was a very nice thing for them to do. Nothing in any way happend, or even got thought of happening. I thought nothing of it (except gratitude to my friend for saving me from crashing on the way home). This psycho religious nutball friend of my wifes found out and said I am probably commiting adultery or will and that I should never talk to this friend again. Especially since she is not "walking with the Lord" whatever that means.
Is my perspective so messed up and "worldly" or do I think that my wifes friend is a nut and most Churchies need to chill here.
I dont want to change the way I am just to please others who think I am sending the wrong message. I sure dont want to give up any friendships over it. I dont have a lot of friends. I sure dont need to lose any.
Oh I havent told my friend (the nice one who let me stay at her house) about this incident but I am sure she will get a good laugh out of it. Who knows, maybe she will read it here.
Anyway, I guess I am curious what do the rest of my new group (very diverse crows) of friends think about the whole men having female friends thing?
The Perfect Church
OK. I am convinced there is no such thing but if I had a perfect Church, here is how it would go:
1) It would be Christian. Not in the pop-culture way. But in that it would follow the true teachings of Christ. Thats a pretty radical idea in itself
2) It would have morals (dont kill, cheat on, steal, etc) but not get stuck on hot button issues. There is more to life than those gay people having abortions (since gay people usually dont have kids, I gotta wonder about that one). Point being there is more to life than that.
3) It would respect all life. Now is that pro-life. Well in the true sense yes. All life. Unborn, alive, old, young, muslim, Christian, green, purple, poor, rich. All Gods people (and animals too to some extent) deserve to live. No I am not a vegan or vegetarin but I couldnt kill anything except bugs. Oh yeah and environmentally concious. God made trees too. Not so you can cut them down.
4) It would be Egalitarian. Men and women would have the same rights and all holding the complementarian viewpoint would be challenged. None of this submission stuff.
5) It would be a peace church. If Jesus is the prince of peace, the Church would have to have loyalty to him above any government. I would say pacifism is a must
6) It would be A-Political. No endorsements of politicians
7) It would be non-tithing. I dont believe tithing is a new testament concept. I dont care if you want to believe that but I cant deal with all the "sowing seeds" talk. If you want to tithe than tithe. But dont shove it down my throat. Giving would be voluntary and not out of guilt
8) It would be emerging . Now this is a can of worms. By emerging I dont mean a member of Emergent village. But I do mean relevant and not stale and boring.
9) It would not be capitalist and run like a business. Too many Churches are run like businesses and care about money. Preaching would be free speech not what wont piss off the big givers. Its not business
There is probably more and I am sure its imperfect. Please comment and give me your ideas on perfect church
1) It would be Christian. Not in the pop-culture way. But in that it would follow the true teachings of Christ. Thats a pretty radical idea in itself
2) It would have morals (dont kill, cheat on, steal, etc) but not get stuck on hot button issues. There is more to life than those gay people having abortions (since gay people usually dont have kids, I gotta wonder about that one). Point being there is more to life than that.
3) It would respect all life. Now is that pro-life. Well in the true sense yes. All life. Unborn, alive, old, young, muslim, Christian, green, purple, poor, rich. All Gods people (and animals too to some extent) deserve to live. No I am not a vegan or vegetarin but I couldnt kill anything except bugs. Oh yeah and environmentally concious. God made trees too. Not so you can cut them down.
4) It would be Egalitarian. Men and women would have the same rights and all holding the complementarian viewpoint would be challenged. None of this submission stuff.
5) It would be a peace church. If Jesus is the prince of peace, the Church would have to have loyalty to him above any government. I would say pacifism is a must
6) It would be A-Political. No endorsements of politicians
7) It would be non-tithing. I dont believe tithing is a new testament concept. I dont care if you want to believe that but I cant deal with all the "sowing seeds" talk. If you want to tithe than tithe. But dont shove it down my throat. Giving would be voluntary and not out of guilt
8) It would be emerging . Now this is a can of worms. By emerging I dont mean a member of Emergent village. But I do mean relevant and not stale and boring.
9) It would not be capitalist and run like a business. Too many Churches are run like businesses and care about money. Preaching would be free speech not what wont piss off the big givers. Its not business
There is probably more and I am sure its imperfect. Please comment and give me your ideas on perfect church
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