tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33863912011-08-16T00:19:08.352-07:00"a place where our ancient faith meets the 21st century"john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.comBlogger5381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-35468005649306061582009-07-10T23:20:00.001-07:002009-07-10T23:21:13.669-07:00

we moved our blog to our main site - www.ginkworld,net stop by and let us know what you think

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-53850870639787501552009-03-16T08:04:00.000-07:002009-03-16T08:08:54.250-07:00

i believe it is time for all people who have AIG policies to find another insurance company. If the fed will not shut them down, we the people should. i will be posting more later on the greed and dislike this company has for the usamerican people - the idea of giving $165 million in bonus' to execs that pushed the company into the toilet is just beyond my undersatnding.if the fed won't, we

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-54193565584081295242008-07-02T13:26:00.000-07:002008-07-02T13:39:26.999-07:00

i received this little expression wisdom from a person i value a great deal - i hope you get as much out of it as i did:There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you."One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-6343689067907470472008-06-02T13:05:00.000-07:002008-06-02T13:07:12.902-07:00

what is the dna of the our faith? what defines us, moves us, embraces us, motivates us and keeps us? how can we as a collective share voices, ideas and expressions of our faith in a unique and dymanic way? how can we, as followers in the 21st centry, tell the story of our walk, and truly hear all voices? well, i am not sure i have all the answers - ok, i am sure i do not have all the answers

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-41166323820942597682008-05-25T13:51:00.000-07:002008-05-25T14:28:20.827-07:00

have you ever wondered what people would think about you if all they could see was your spam folder? think about that, if all we had was your spam folder what would we think about you?ok, granted - i am bored. i am sitting in my fav cafe [la boca, in sacramento], watching soccer, while watching all the interactions of the people - and it got me thinking [right after i dumped over 1,500 emails

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-51519869446171858052008-05-16T21:07:00.000-07:002008-05-16T21:21:47.411-07:00

i am always amazed at how we as a people who proclaim to follow Christ are more reactionary to issues. we tend to have knee jerk reactions to issues and then we apologize for the mistakes we make and the insults we bounce about - sure, we say it is because we are "human" but i think it goes deeper then that - i think we just do not care. let's be honest, many people in the church care only for

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-78919373126255854632008-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:002008-04-21T15:03:46.871-07:00

define what it means to be a blended family? think about that for a second and share what you think the definition of a blended family is. this has been something that has been on my mind for a while, and more so as of late. over the past few weeks a dear friend [denise] and i have been talking about this idea of a "blended family" and what it means. we have been in process over the term and how

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-43912431529162786602008-04-18T18:01:00.000-07:002008-04-18T18:28:08.561-07:00

over the past few weeks my morning readings have been centering on the book of john. i have always been found of the gospel of john because it shares a vision of our walk in faith that should center on how we see Jesus in our lives - now, all the gospels do that, but john always spoke to me at a deeper level - and reading it in "the message" has been even more powerful.this morning i was reading

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-80771557601202832862008-04-12T11:56:00.001-07:002008-04-12T12:25:19.944-07:00

where is God's word in our life? for most, it is on the self behind the fake flowers we got a few years ago at a yard sale for 10 cents. but really, where is God's word in our life? if, as followers, we claim to be walking in the light of Christ - i ask again, where is God's word in our life? now, i have to be honest and say that this is kind of a "trick question" - because, in reality [for

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-931016840913008322008-04-07T16:36:00.000-07:002008-04-07T17:03:20.642-07:00

ever get friends requests on your myspace? i get some, about 50 or so a month. i accept some, and i reject many others. if, for what ever reason you have, you desire to be a friend on my myspace, keep in mind some very simple guidelines i use to determine who is and is not a friend - here goes:1. you need to be someone i would send a birthday wish to. now, that may not seem like a big deal,

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-72510873017719321932008-04-01T15:06:00.000-07:002008-04-01T15:17:23.089-07:00

recently, i have the pleasure to attend a "black church" - a church in the historical african american tradition - and i was amazed. i was not amazed by the music, which was great - nor was i amazed at the preaching, which was fantastic - what amazed me was that in each pew they had pew bibles - now, that may not seem like a big deal - after all, many churches supply pew bibles - i have been in

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-14013614790976732912008-03-12T09:13:00.000-07:002008-03-12T09:44:25.400-07:00

i am not impressed with political leaders or religious leaders who take a "hard line" stance for any topic - because they always fall from grace. it is the "speck and beem" thing Jesus told us about. spitzer is just the latest in a long line of "leaders" who have stood hard on what they saw as a moral issue, only to fall to that same moral issue. when i was a kid my grandfather taught me that, "

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-63584584626115220092008-02-26T14:07:00.000-08:002008-02-26T15:08:18.555-08:00

over the past few years i have been processing a great deal of life - some great, some good and some not so good - but life never the less. in that processing, i have been thinking a great deal about my faith journey and what God is doing to refine my faith walk. when i think of my faith journey some very important words come to mind, and help me in the process - let me share with you a few of

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-32896804006296394122008-02-25T14:56:00.000-08:002008-02-25T15:23:48.416-08:00

before i start, i want to explain that i believe Jesus is my Lord and Savior - while i have never had an issue with that, i have to say i am very uncomfortable thinking i need to say that before i go on - and why is that? because i am going to write about "common grounds" between christianity and islam - and i know, if i did not "qualify my words" some would take them out of context - and that

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-74170408187117242812008-02-24T14:15:00.000-08:002008-02-24T14:41:40.449-08:00

do we as followers have a faith that can change the world? i often wonder, because if i hear many evangelicals right, our faith is not enough to change us - never mind the world we live in. if, our faith is unable to cause in us a new life, what makes us think we can make a new world? what makes us think we can bring something to the world that will change the direction? if, our faith just "saves

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-39702212172911651062008-02-22T15:09:00.000-08:002008-02-22T15:18:14.534-08:00

i am amazed at how many people desire to "qualify" love in different ways. we stretch it, we mold it, we sell it - but we always seem to discount it when it comes to loving those who are different then us. we find reasons not to love, and that to me is amazing.why do we discount love? why do we make excuses for not loving? why are we seeking something we are unwilling to give to others? what

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-40324651893555532452008-02-15T12:07:00.000-08:002008-02-15T12:10:50.799-08:00

one of the greatest, if not the greatest, sifi book i have ever read in my entire life is called "stranger in a strange land," it is the best-selling 1961 novel by robert heinlein. of all the books i read in college, this book had the most profound influence on my life and future actions. if you have never read the book, i suggest you buy it and read it - it is amazing. why is it amazing? because

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-89800269838874885742008-02-11T18:53:00.000-08:002008-02-11T19:09:12.916-08:00

it might be best to start out with a disclaimer, i attended a umc seminary called drew and pastored a few umc churches in my day. now, that being said i still think a great deal of my theology is based more on the wesleyan traditions and less on other traditions. wesleyan theology connects for me - it allows me to develop a flow on information in my walk of faith that keeps me centered on Christ.

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-26844644836044740392008-02-09T14:41:00.000-08:002008-02-09T15:11:55.518-08:00

i have been dealing with some very deep personal issues as of late. the kind of issues that change your life and make you take a deep look at some of the mistakes you have made along the way - and i have made some pretty big mistakes - but i am thankful God is there, and that i am able to learn from the lesson.you see, i am a sinner - no, i am not saying this so people can say "look, even a

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-41436940941009181582008-02-07T12:27:00.000-08:002008-02-07T12:33:58.520-08:00

i will admit i am still in process over this idea, but it is one that struck me the other day. ever since i became a christian i have heard people say "we need to be selfless in our actions to others." i was talking with a great friend and he mentioned the same thing, "we need to be selfless" - when he said it i did not hear "selfless" i heard "selflast" - and i think i like that view of

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-19185807814346836722008-02-01T09:48:00.001-08:002008-02-01T09:51:08.698-08:00

Ever had your guts ripped out? Ever had your spin ripped from your body with such force you fall to your knees in shock, wondering what just happened? Ever had your world explode around in with such force you are left deaf from the noise and numb to the results for days? Ever had fear over take you in such a way that you had no idea where to turn, how to move or even if you should? Ever been so

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-64745051632276215722008-01-29T08:10:00.000-08:002008-01-30T09:57:53.623-08:00

Faith to me is a journey, it is not a destination; it is not “where I am going,” it is “how am I getting there.” To me, my walk in faith has been an interesting adventure, and is often filled with times of great stress, followed by times of rest and relaxation. It has been a journey that has brought me through some very hard times, and some very good times. In my faith journey I have met people I

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-53798261459881604042008-01-27T08:25:00.000-08:002008-01-28T09:16:19.033-08:00

[thoughts in process]what does it mean to be "church organic?" what value does being a "church organic" have in relation to being "church inorganic?" the reality for me is that most churches have started with the desire to be "church organic" but have added so many artificial flavors and ingredients that they can claim, at best, being "church inorganic." is "church organic" healthier for you then

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-89606300704050981462008-01-13T19:47:00.000-08:002008-01-13T20:29:26.851-08:00

where do you find grace? where can we, as humans, find grace and unconditional love? where can we find a place that welcomes us for us? where can we be loved for who we are and not what others demand of us? where can we find a place where we are acknowledged as having value? where can we find a place that helps us over come the pains of life? where can we find a place that simply will help take

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-69567230791154679742008-01-09T20:48:00.000-08:002008-01-09T21:52:04.658-08:00

some questions:how do you define feeling welcomed into a "church?" what would make you never step foot in a "church" again? how would you define feeling "invited" to a "church?" what do you think are the core realities of feeling welcomed and invited? would you feel welcomed in a "church" if you could not find it? would you feel invited to a "church" if there was no one around who could tell you

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-54255895205679786212008-01-01T10:20:00.000-08:002008-01-03T22:11:25.647-08:00

let me pretend i talk with dead people and see if i can predict the future. well not really "dead" people, like in the whole "oh no, my heart stopped and i'm dead and either going to heaven or hell" thing going, that would be too freaky. i am talking about "dead people," you see i do speak with a great many people in a great many churches and most of them seem dead, and that counts. in my

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-87377740479583234072007-12-31T18:37:00.000-08:002007-12-31T19:06:44.262-08:00

well, it is getting late on the west coast and the new year is about 5 hours away. i have to admit that things have been pretty crazy this year - i have been riding an emotional roller coaster, while dealing with some pretty crazy things in my life - but all is good and God is leading, i pray. as i look over the past year i can point to some pretty hectic stuff, and i can point to some pretty

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-53367287353740280922007-12-30T21:11:00.000-08:002007-12-30T21:22:22.486-08:00

the idea that the american church "sells" a gospel is not that hard to grasp, because it spends millions on trying to make the gospel message popular. well, actually they spend billions, not millions. in my opinion, the american church spends more on trying to get people to "swallow" a palatable gospel message, that it has lost connect with what the gospel message is all about. it has spent

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-15853744170134591722007-12-14T23:21:00.000-08:002007-12-14T23:58:55.427-08:00

with all the stuff flying around about the episcopal church, i just wanted to add my two cents - well, half a cent - i am not that important. i need to start out saying that i know katherine jefferts schori from when she was the bishop in las vegas. i was talking with the episcopal church about planting and worked with them - katherine was great, but there were a whole lot of very old closed

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-13133080082908796962007-12-09T21:18:00.000-08:002007-12-09T22:04:08.574-08:00

i have been thinking about a few things as of late; that is not to say that i normally do not think of things - well, kind of, i guess. but i digress..... sometimes, for me, things are never as "clear" as they may seem for others - i tend to have more questions then most - i tend to look at things with a "different view." here are a few things i am processing:my first ponder: with the

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-3420321473085839782007-12-06T20:27:00.000-08:002007-12-06T21:13:46.195-08:00

as many know, i am not a big fan of televangelists or pastors of "megachurches" who make more money then the national income of many small countries - mainly because i believe they use and abuse people, while actually bringing a bad name to a ministry they claim centers on christ - so, i have no great love for such abuse - but i found something i have even "less love" for - and that is "power

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-68970917840384168372007-11-16T14:09:00.000-08:002008-02-07T12:38:59.738-08:00

which is more important? do you think it is important to change the message? do you think it is important to change the method we deliver the message in?

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-30214493183520643572007-11-10T11:11:00.000-08:002007-11-10T12:14:20.782-08:00

i have been lazy in my duties as a blogger - not because i do not like blogging, i do, but because finding the time between life and life gets hard. so, here is a "catch-up" of things i have been planing on blogging about:BOOKS:two books i wanted to bring to your attention:living under jacob's ladder by grey mariposa [self published on lulu for $6.25 download and 15.95 paperback]. this is a

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-91757438468395716342007-10-26T09:35:00.000-07:002007-10-26T09:52:31.001-07:00

trust is a very interesting thing. in the modern world you "earn trust" or you "lose trust." trust is not "a given" as the basis of many modern relationships. it seems many people have a natural order to "distrust" others. no matter what is shared, no matter what is "proven" some people just do not trust others - and in many cases they do so without any reasons - as one person once told me, "it

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-73964904264160079812007-10-24T14:43:00.000-07:002007-10-24T16:03:26.065-07:00

i am not a "political" person; i do not like politics. i mean politics does not impress me and those who run the country do not impress me - but i can tell you, they sure do strive to impress themselves. they see themselves as something important, but the reality is many people see them as "bags of hot air" who have lost connection with the people they are suppose to serve. they forget that we

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-64426368797170668632007-09-29T14:03:00.000-07:002007-09-29T14:19:33.403-07:00

we know it took longer then we figure, but we did it - given coding issues, design issues and just dealing with the time to do it, along with living our lives and keeping our families happy - but the ministry placement is up and running - in beta. while we have received a great number of comments from people saying "about time" we have also received emails from people saying "why?" well, to

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-33273083863082415662007-09-26T08:16:00.000-07:002008-02-07T12:38:21.676-08:00

i had lunch with a good friend yesterday and we were talking about church- and what needs to be done in and about churches today. here are some of the things i think the church needs to confess, and seek forgiveness, as they strive to walk closer to where God desires them to be.i believe that the american church has lost its true call: i see the church concerned with numbers; members, money and

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-5127287690456903152007-09-17T10:49:00.000-07:002007-09-17T11:15:16.681-07:00

a comment made on my "grace driven" post got me thinking - and opened my eyes to something i had felt, but could not put words too: rdnakx250 wrote..."I am a professional ministry person and I have noticed that across the board we (as professional ministry people) don't like each other very much. For that matter we don't trust each other very much. Its probably because as leaders we don't take

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-53726169318588866672007-09-05T08:03:00.000-07:002007-09-05T08:18:44.493-07:00

not too long ago i started to run; now i am not a big running fan so i just run about a mile and a half - which is actually just jog. i use to ride the bike at the gym, but as of late money is tight so the gym is out - and so i run.now, the cool thing is i get too spend time running and just thinking to myself - running and thinking - i like that - it is my "zen time" - where i can envision

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-20384706878774918282007-09-03T08:22:00.000-07:002007-09-03T09:13:23.864-07:00

i have ben thinking recently about a great many things - but the one that has been driving my thoughts of late is this idea of grace - what is it, how is it to effect us and what is it that makes it such a important part of our lives - and, in my personal view, is the center of all we are as followers of christ - as disciples of the master we should be "grace driven."grace is one of the hardest

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-87577380295510624232007-09-02T10:58:00.000-07:002007-09-02T11:53:26.715-07:00

i am amazed at our critics. most misunderstand us so much that they place people like benny hinn, rick waren, and others into the camp of "emerging" - that's cool, but many do they miss the boat in how we think and what we believe - but recently it has been more of a "name calling" game on the part of our critics - we have been called "girly-men" or "sissies" - here is an example "headline" of a

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-10531570253174736402007-08-27T09:03:00.000-07:002007-08-27T11:04:04.863-07:00

the background:some time at the end of may, beginning of june, i received a email from a bud telling me they heard of a church in the sacramento area that was looking for a pastor - he sent me a email address, but no web link [cornerstone christian church in el dorado hills does not have a website - recently i did find out it was formally "el dorado hills baptist church - in el dorado hills;

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-48726010694205950642007-08-23T16:18:00.000-07:002007-08-23T21:39:10.530-07:00

10 years ago the world lost one of the greatest ladies to walk the face of the earth; no, one of the greatest human beings to ever walk the face of the earth. she died to early and yet made a powerful impact on many lives. her heart for those in need was great; her voice was a voice for those in need who, because of no fault of their own, had a hard time in life. she gave of herself on a daily

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-86821568534048910652007-08-16T15:24:00.000-07:002007-08-16T15:46:28.647-07:00

it has been a long time coming, but we are back in cali and loving it all. we drove across country and saw some very cool things - and had some very interesting experiences. one thing i learned during the trip is that sprint is not a very good cell phone company if you are driving across the 80 - we never seemed to hit a tower, even when we were under a tower.we drove from north carolina to

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-78550695989770793042007-08-11T09:06:00.000-07:002007-08-11T09:58:30.971-07:00

over the next few weeks i will be sharing with you some of the reasons i left "organized" religion. it needs to be said that i will be giving the reasons to you in no particular order - or in no particular importance. i will share them as they come to me, and i am able to express my feelings; they will come as ramblings from my heart. just so you know, everything is fair game. the reasons

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-55518657473432555182007-07-28T15:04:00.000-07:002007-07-28T15:42:36.271-07:00

i was talking with a person not to long ago that seemed rather "upset" - actually, they were very upset - with my refusing to take on words like "christian" or "evangelical" or "saved" or "whatever" in connection with my faith walk. while they seemed to be upset with a great many things about me, that was one of the biggest - the "other biggest" later in the week - so they asked me, "well, what

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-73825616673834000832007-07-11T20:15:00.000-07:002007-07-11T20:16:04.047-07:00

i had a great conversation with a person who works in a church office, and she got me thinking and processing about some very interesting things. i am usually not big on names and places because i like the idea and the story to stand on their own, but becky over at sungrove community church gave me a great deal to think about, and also hope that the church may be getting it right after all. now

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-24716729300013655462007-06-24T12:00:00.000-07:002007-06-24T12:01:59.597-07:00

What is the value of human life? I shutter to even ask the question, because even the question has an “economic overtone” that seems out of place with the idea of human life. You see, we have lost direction in the world, because we “value” economics and profit over human life. To even ask the question of “what is the value of human life?” means we seek to place a monetary value on the intrinsic

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-71025756366280546812007-06-21T10:24:00.000-07:002007-06-21T11:15:16.140-07:00

when tragedy hits, our faith is tested and measured. when "something goes wrong" we see how our faith is embedded in our lives. how we react to tragedy is a direct measure of how secure we are in our faith. this is real personally, and this is real collectively. when tragedy hits, we can either gather in support of the injured, or we can simply ignore their hurt and say "there but for the

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-67265439624831387102007-06-19T15:45:00.000-07:002007-06-19T17:01:49.963-07:00

it should not amaze me, but it does; it should not cause me to be concerned, but it does; it should not sadden me, but it does. what can do all that? the reality that the church is simply not hearing the voices of those who are calling for change - and what amazes me the most is how the church puts its collective head in the sand and never even notices that things have changed - and yea, i have

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-29767004466217359162007-06-17T20:29:00.000-07:002007-06-17T20:41:53.468-07:00

it took some time, and there still is some tweaking we need to do - but we overhauled ginkworld - and it was a a process. but we think it looks cool. we are playing with the idea that we desire an "evolution" - so we gave ginkworld a very "cccp" theme - very "1917 revolution" - tell us what you think.some changes:we got rid of the java menu - because it gives foxfire people a fit - and replaced

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-73985097871409482002007-06-16T19:58:00.000-07:002007-06-16T20:21:04.715-07:00

over this past year i have been truly diving into this idea that the church needs to evolve -not just in style, but in theology and heart. i have come to some major conclusions that i think are primary for my sanity and the sanity of those i love.conclusion one: the church, while in a desperate need for an extreme makeover, is unwilling to look deep into its own heart to see the pain it causes

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-52192441817167546592007-06-10T15:20:00.000-07:002007-06-10T16:49:57.315-07:00

ever get tired? i mean truly, in the heart tired? tired of all the garbage shared by the church and those who call themselves christian? you ever get to the point in your faith where you think what's it all for? why be a christian is there is no difference between those in church and those outside church? why deal with the judgments from those who need to look closer at their lives, before

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-33880528278684941362007-06-06T20:58:00.000-07:002007-06-06T21:17:41.202-07:00

over the past year i have received spam from people wanting my penis to grow and my hair to return; i have received spam from "hot chicks" and russian teens; i have received invitations to buy repo-homes, new cars, cell phones, and even a boat of two; i have received spam for sex, cigars, and even more sex - but today was the very first time i received spam from a member of congress. brothers and

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-53365727567281952312007-05-26T16:32:00.000-07:002007-05-26T16:50:34.840-07:00

i never know who does it, but someone adds my name to silly email lists that for what ever reason there is, i can not get off - and "1000churches" is the one i have been most recently added to - and when i got to "unsubscribe" i am not given that opportunity - but i am able to add my name to other needless email lists - and that is always exciting - but this time, this email list actually gave me

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-82509235493860430502007-05-14T20:58:00.000-07:002007-05-14T21:34:12.330-07:00

i have a confession to make, i did not go to church this week - and i do not feel bad about it either.i am tired of hearing the crap from the front and seeing nothing getting done. let's be honest, we talk more about doing, and we spend very little time actually doing. i know, i spoke the crap and to be honest very few in the church actually did anything - i think many people who claim to be a

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-58906165286559427032007-05-10T12:58:00.000-07:002007-05-10T13:01:50.755-07:00

StaticAuthor: Ron Martoia ok, here's the deal...[well, kind of the deal] i need to be honest and open. i am not big on reviewing the works of others. when i am asked to do so my first reaction is to run and hide. i am the king of skeptics and always want to come off with some negative crap about the book - being a skeptic is my default operating system - but i have to say, i liked this book. i

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-53481107084057207542007-05-09T21:24:00.000-07:002007-05-11T18:14:33.092-07:00

i have never been impressed with some of the translations of scripture that we have. many who translate carry a political agenda that seems a bit out of touch with me - this agenda can be found in the king james, the niv and so many others. for example, the king james version translates the word "scheol" as "hell" when it is speaking about "bad" people, and as "grave" when it speaks of "good

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-22556823557113072462007-04-26T16:37:00.000-07:002007-04-26T17:15:34.783-07:00

yea, that's right we are moving back to cali - we tried the southeast, but we soon found we were ducks out of water. we have nothing against the southeast, it is just that we did not fit in it - we tried, we tried hard - but it is hard to take the cali out of us :) we are west coast people -so, we are heading back to sacramento - while i will be starting my dmin soon, i have no idea what i will

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-75576041079576389352007-04-24T21:57:00.000-07:002007-04-24T21:59:37.530-07:00

ok, so here i am playing around the net when i cam across this cool thing called "meez" - i just thought it was so cool. anyway, here i am in a "meez" kind of way - my goat is not that long - it's about half that at this point :)

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-5523882824394190152007-04-22T09:16:00.000-07:002007-04-22T09:41:20.362-07:00

i have been thinking about this for a while, and i have "given in" to the realities of my world - i have started a new myspace group called "the church of the misfits." here is what the "description" says:"the church of misfits is a gathering of people who want to ask questions, have open dialog and truly make a difference in this world. this is a community seeking to know what it means to be on

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-65926284010410320002007-04-18T19:55:00.000-07:002007-04-18T20:45:39.979-07:00

first, let me get some "likes" out of the way:i like myspace - i have a myspace, and i belong to a few groups - not as active as i like, but i go and read as much as i can [my favorite groups are "revolutionaries wanted," and "the movement project" - they are two of my favorite groups]. i also have friends and family with myspace accounts - and it is easy for us to stay in contact with each

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-64543006319016702072007-04-11T21:53:00.000-07:002007-04-11T22:42:41.237-07:00

i am tired of all the crap - ok, you can email me later about the use of the word, but it is how i feel - i am tired of crap - the crap the church hands out and calls "theology" or "community;" the crap the others give out and call "love" or "forgiveness" or "acceptance;" the crap some hand out and call "christian living" - i am tired of all the crap - the garbage we are handed and just expected

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-38555899233654530752007-04-08T19:33:00.001-07:002007-04-08T19:34:00.070-07:00

it wasn't that long ago when i was asked by a pastor of another church if i did not pastor the church i was currently at, what church in town would i attend? the question tossed me back a bit, but got me thinking; and i did not have an answer. so, this pastor looked at me and said i could "give him an answer in a few week" - basically he gave me some time to "think it over and get back" with

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-84026687125497890362007-04-05T09:52:00.000-07:002007-04-05T12:35:20.856-07:00

in this day and age i am amazed at the lack of respect there is for racial groups - how the stereo-types are played to on the tv and in advertising in general - for me, the latest is the new arby's tv ad [created by merkley and partners, which is owned by the "omnicom group" ] - the one where monkey's preform a traditional irish step dance to traditional irish music.you see, this is hard for me

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-8714075418376890592007-03-31T10:36:00.000-07:002007-03-31T10:37:36.376-07:00

the story:once upon a time, in a land far, far away, during a time long since forgotten, stood the church. the church was rather small and would gather in the center of town on main street, around the city fountain. each sunday, as they woke the people of the town would gather and come to the church to here what was being said, and to share in the fun and community. during the week, the people

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-16081504712098620372007-03-10T21:30:00.000-08:002007-03-10T22:06:16.936-08:00

i have to give credit where credit is due,and i got the seeds for this idea from my good friend jim palmer, the author of "divine nobodies." the idea, at first, was to "stand before God" 100% "unzipped," naked if you will - but i have been praying over this for a number of weeks and i have to say, i just and not on board with this idea of having to stand before God "unzipped" - the reason is, it

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-69843174470465839422007-03-10T13:46:00.000-08:002007-03-10T14:29:56.322-08:00

i have been wondering as of late if many denominations know they are dying? do we truly think any denomination will live past the next ten years of the 21c? i mean, given the stats over the past years i wonder if denominations know they are dying? if we take into account all the "emerging/evolving" communities of faith who deny any denominational connection, and even many of the modern

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-47077804146916066632007-03-07T12:33:00.000-08:002007-03-07T13:06:27.275-08:00

i have been thinking a great deal lately about how many churches are on the "we are emerging wagon." it seems that each and every day we recieve about 25 to 30 requests from churches who say "we are emerging" and yet there is little, if anything, emerging about them. recently i came across this writen by a disciple of christ pastor in sacramento, "...many churches are looking for a formula to

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-38216459330646008772007-03-06T21:10:00.000-08:002007-03-06T21:12:53.057-08:00

as the lights dim, and the concert ends, those behind the stage curtain expect the crowd to shout for more; just then a voice comes over the speaker system proclaiming, "ladies and gentlemen, the church has left the building." while many standing behind the curtains chant for more with their lighters in hand waving back and forth trying hard to get the crowd excited; they do so to empty seats,

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-48892164450120411772007-02-12T20:11:00.000-08:002007-02-12T20:13:57.966-08:00

recently, tina and i had an opportunity to visit a very interesting church. it is one of those "mega-churches." now, i am not going to share the name of the church because the name does not matter. my desire is not to embarrass the church, nor is it to make this about them - it is about us, it is about something very interesting. take a look at the picture on the right and tell me what is

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-23860407846299385982007-02-05T15:07:00.000-08:002007-02-05T15:11:36.992-08:00

i am always amazed at the critics of the emerging/evolving conversation. not because they seem to miss the boat on so many points, but because they desire to talk more to themselves and less to us. they would rather "talk about us, then talk to us." while they claim to have a "deep care" for us, i am not sure i am "feeling the love" they claim to be sending our way. it seems that they desire to

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-85292170577651987382007-01-21T10:11:00.000-08:002007-01-21T10:14:09.821-08:00

tina and i will be heading to the faith forward forum in la in the morning - we get up early and take a long fight :) we are looking forward to blogging about what is happening - specner from the ooze will be joining us as we take this little adventure and it will be fun to hang with spencer again - i have not seen him in over a year - sure, we talk but it is so much nicer to share a beer and

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1168574292657919132007-01-11T19:43:00.000-08:002007-01-11T20:19:59.018-08:00

the sbc amazes me - no, let me rephrase that.... the sbc confounds me. there, that's better and more to the truth of how i feel.president carter is trying to unite a faction of the sbc that has been pushed aside for years. he is offering a hand out to those who do not have the "republican sbc views" and fall more in line with other points of view - but, the sbc just can't have that - so they

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1168078015320486962007-01-06T01:47:00.000-08:002007-01-06T02:07:04.223-08:00

what brings about change? what causes one community of faith to look deep into what it is and causes it to change? what causes one community of faith to change, while another closes its doors forever? one thing i have noticed is that churches are much like people in how they face the idea they may die - let me explain. if, after a long life the doctor looked at you and said, "you are dying and

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1167348648161124732006-12-28T14:44:00.000-08:002006-12-28T15:30:48.336-08:00

now that 90% of the "church makeover" is done, i can spend a bit more time back in the world of blogging :) so, i thought i would share with you just two of the blogs i have been reading as of late. ok, i love these voices;lacey hearty:this is the coolest thing i have seen writen in a long time - you have to check it out; head over to lacey hearty's blog and get a grip of what she is sharing -

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1166645430713884002006-12-20T12:01:00.000-08:002006-12-20T12:10:30.733-08:00

i have been driving myself crazy this past month with doing some very cool things - first, we are moving the church i serve as lead pastor to a new location. we are the only church in the area that would willingly change locations with a bar....twice. we are excited about the move and what God is doing in our community of faith - check out our new site and new name [247thechurch.com]second, i

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1165553505363981632006-12-07T20:45:00.000-08:002006-12-07T20:51:45.390-08:00

it has been a crazy past few weeks. about a month ago we were approached by a local bar owner about switching buildings, and it has been one wild, God filled ride after another.we have moved to a very cool, new location that we believe will allow us to do so much more - and do it with the style and grace we desire. we have gone through some major changes [and i am in the process of writing more

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1165171329839603762006-12-03T10:32:00.000-08:002006-12-03T10:42:10.050-08:00

i just read an article about business and the like still sending junk mail and other mail to the world trade center. it has been five years, and the big business of "selling an address" is still focused on making money. i find this hard to grasp - now, i would think removing the world trade center from a data base would be hard if the trade center was "mixed in" with all the other local stuff -

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1165117276188295202006-12-02T19:40:00.000-08:002006-12-02T19:41:22.070-08:00

this may sound like i am "bitching," and maybe i am, but i am not impressed with all the churches lighting candles for "world aids day." i find it insulting and all in the game of religious politics. what i have been able to gleam from all this is that denominations get a little press; religious leaders can look a bit more "jesus-like;" photo ops are posted on denominational news sites so the

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1163181983518275142006-11-10T08:40:00.000-08:002006-11-10T10:07:59.256-08:00

i have never been a big fan of what i call "jesus junk." i have always been under the impression that the "wwjd" was the "top" of the "jesus junk" marketing pile - that is until lifeways [and i am still not sure how i got on their email list] sent me a email about this thing called "birth verse" and the catch line is "everyone's got one; what's your?" WHAT? when did that happen, when did i get

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1162615585445654782006-11-03T17:31:00.000-08:002006-11-03T20:47:01.066-08:00

i received a few emails today asking me about this whole ted haggard thing. most wanted me to share my views, and some wanted me to share more then my views. but, i have done neither in emails. let me share why - in reading the reports of what has happened to ted, i have been shocked [though i should not be] by the reaction of other people claiming to be "pastors." some placed themselves above

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1162447390416346412006-11-01T22:01:00.000-08:002006-11-01T22:03:10.446-08:00

before i get a butt load of people emailing me about this whole thing, let me say that i do believe in an expression of truth that could be seen as "absolute" [for a lack of a better term], i am just not sure i believe any human can know of, or even think they know of, what that “absolute” expression of “truth” can be. you see, i believe we are limited in the way we think, express and define

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1161796688427422282006-10-25T08:42:00.000-07:002006-10-25T10:18:08.593-07:00

well, we think we have it all - alan hartung has been great and so has stephen miracles [stephen helps develop ideas and code, just wait he emailed me during this entry with a very cool up coming idea] - but we got hacked :) it may sound silly but for some reason i have seen this as more of a learning experience, a "good thing," as opposed to a pain in the ass, a "bad thing." we were hacked by

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1161018529771822902006-10-16T08:59:00.000-07:002006-10-16T10:08:50.066-07:00

how do we define morality? what makes one thing moral and another thing "not" moral? what is morality? what is "moral?" now, i am not looking for the "webster definition" of the word, i want to know what is moral? do we get the idea of what is moral from scripture, or do we decide what is moral and then look for scripture to support our view? does morality come from our faith, or does our

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1160711384253515382006-10-12T20:40:00.000-07:002006-10-12T20:49:44.276-07:00

the aleutian & pribilof peoples of alaska have decided not to take citgo' offer of free, or reduced heating oil. these people, because of where they are located, pay between $5 and $7 a gallon for heating oil, their average bill could run hundreds of dollars a month, and in a culture that does not have much this is hard.i am not interested in the politics, but i care about the people - we should

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1160696077230664262006-10-12T16:24:00.000-07:002006-10-12T16:34:37.253-07:00

ever just get in one of those "i am thinking moods?" you know, the ones where you want to say something but you are filled with questions and no answers? like, how do you define friendship? what elements need to be there for a friendship to develop? does one need to be in contact all the time? does one need to touch? can friendships be developed over the internet? what defines friendship

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1160632753916179302006-10-11T22:19:00.000-07:002006-10-11T22:59:13.946-07:00

i'm green, and i have been green for a very long time. i am a firm believer that we are to care for this world so that our children can have a place that is safe to live. so, i believe in being a green christian.i was watching a moyer's pbs show "God is green" and i have to say i think he did a great job - but one thing truly got me upset - and it was not moyer at all. it was based on some of

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1159654190651465492006-09-30T15:03:00.000-07:002006-09-30T15:09:50.690-07:00

At ginkworld.net we have been spending time cleaning up the back door and adding some new features. One of those features is a php list program that enables us to develop a solid email list for “the evolution” our monthly enews letter. In looking over our back end we noticed we had “too much junk in the trunk.” We found over 4 separate lists of people for different reasons; so we thought bringing

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1159592871347535752006-09-29T22:02:00.000-07:002006-09-29T22:07:51.370-07:00

robert downey jr will be playing iron man - i like it. tony stark, who is iron man for all those who were not raised on comics :) was a man haunted with demons. downey will be a great stark,and i think that will turn into a great iron man. it should be worth the wait - it's coming in 2008.click here for more info

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1158957991299424772006-09-22T13:42:00.000-07:002006-09-22T13:48:44.873-07:00

over the past year or so i have been in process of trying to define the jesus i know. unlike many i know in the church i am not the kind of guy who will say "i got it right, and you got it wrong." at best, i can say "i think i got it right." in my mind, anything more makes me more important then i think i am and places all that i know on me; i define jesus as i desire if i am the center of

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1157065619798212632006-08-31T15:43:00.000-07:002006-09-02T10:07:18.280-07:00

it is no secret, i am a pacifist. i hold to the teachings of christ, and seek to truly be a peacemaker [matthew 5:9] a son of God. my stance is not based on the politics of the day but on the teachings of jesus the christ in scripture [matthew being just the start of it all]. i believe the teachings of jesus are peace, grace, forgiveness and love and war has no place in those teachings because

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1156167414781509902006-08-21T06:09:00.000-07:002006-08-21T06:36:54.803-07:00

it is the bend knee of our worship leader, taken by josh, her boy friend.what i found interesting is that many who read this post and either commented here, or in community or via a email saw what i was trying to say - they got it, they grasped the idea that we jump to a conclusion based on what something looks like - mainly, we do this with people - and they get the idea that if we do we are not

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1155934170945277272006-08-18T13:11:00.000-07:002006-08-18T14:36:47.650-07:00

i am always amazed at the people who claim to know something, or about someone, just by looking at them or it. most of my life i have had people "look" at me and make some very wrong conclusions.when i was younger, the conclusions centered around my weight, and how lazy i must have been because i was over weight.when i was in seminary, i "looked" the part of the most part and everything was cool

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1154492226066717342006-08-01T21:14:00.000-07:002006-08-01T21:17:06.553-07:00

some of my best thinking comes from mistakes i make in life. i get a butt load of ideas just because i can not spell, i have zero ability to frame a sentence and my english is limited to words most 6th graders can grasp. i have never been called a "intellectual" and i am not know from my scholarly work on any topic; i am the kind or writer who just says it like it is and moves on. i make a

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1154410803370588812006-07-31T22:12:00.000-07:002006-08-01T06:36:23.706-07:00

i am not real big on this nebulas thing called a "family church." it never seems to truly be anything "family" - when a "family" walks in the front door, the kids go one way, the teens go another way, while mom and dad head off to different directions themselves. during worship, mom and day may sit tighter but the kids and the teens are not in sight. in fact, the only time the "family" is

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1154146407657961242006-07-28T21:10:00.000-07:002006-08-01T06:36:46.616-07:00

i have been listening to the news concerning the war and it got me to thinking. i got to thinking about is how horrid humans are. it seems that hate runs deeper then love, and violence runs deeper then peace. vengeance is the food that feeds the human soul and drives the human heart; with greed and self desires the spice that seasons the meal. my stomach turns at the thought of a human taking

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1154011332683362092006-07-27T07:32:00.000-07:002006-07-27T07:42:12.696-07:00

from my understanding the evangelical doctrine of sin is:all sin leads to deathit is our nature to sinwe will continue to sin no matter whatwe can not stop our sin nature.so, no matter what we sin - and we keep sinning according to the evangelical doctrine - but, what do we do with things like this:1 john 5:16-17 "If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1153981524307442172006-07-26T23:23:00.000-07:002006-07-26T23:25:24.323-07:00

Life is a journey, a process, and apprenticeship where we strive to go deeper and seek to walk in light. I was raised a non-Christian in the post-Christian world in New York, Florida, Las Vegas [a place not given to traditions] and California. I have a very different view of church and the faith then many in the evangelical world seem to have - and I am ok with that, I truly am [they may not

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386391.post-1153365443439963532006-07-19T17:20:00.000-07:002006-07-19T20:17:23.533-07:00

i like myspace, i have one and so does the community of faith i serve. i have found it to be a great place to meet people and extend connections. i love all the fuss about myspace, and all the hype some modern christian leaders are trying to bring out. while i am certain they believe they are doing good, i wonder if they realize how disconnected they sound, how out of touch with culture they

john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com6