Where have you been?

I have a weird philosophy about traveling. I usually travel for educational or ministry reasons but I don't really go on many trips just for fun. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy new cultures and places, too. But I typically have a hard time justifying the expense in my mind. I think of all the money I would be spending on myself, all the time away from the Lord's work, all because "I" want to experience new things or explore new places.

Not that traveling is wrong. This past year I've already traveled to Monterey, CA (regional scientific conference), Arkansas (wedding), New Mexico (CHIP summit), Missouri (GC Session), and Sacramento, CA (ASI), to name a few. This coming year I'll be in Tennessee (GYC) and Toronto (national scientific meeting). Perhaps I already travel enough on scientific and ministry-related trips. Maybe I'm just a poor university student. Perhaps it's because my 1992 Honda Civic just can't do those 2000 mile road trips anymore. And besides, to be honest, I'm perfectly happy right where God has placed me.

However, in the spirit of this post, I have provided a map of all the states that I have visited (that I can remember). Right now, it's a little over 50%. It could have been more, but it didn't seem fair to include airport visits...hehe

Create your Own Visited States Map

I voted electronically!

I voted. I did my civic duty. I'm sure Arnold did too.

I'm generally not too vocal about political issues. Politics, and its obligatory divisive nature, can become so consuming to many that it distracts from what really matters, preaching and living the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, when it comes to religious liberty issues, I do think that we should do all we can to preserve the religious freedom that America stands for.

Read the following quotes and then click on the link beneath:

The Lord would have His people bury political questions. On these themes silence is eloquence. Christ calls upon His followers to come into unity on the pure gospel principles which are plainly revealed in the word of God. We cannot with safety vote for political parties; for we do not know whom we are voting for. We cannot with safety take part in any political schemes. We cannot labor to please men who will use their influence to repress religious liberty, and to set in operation oppressive measures to lead or compel their fellow men to keep Sunday as the Sabbath. The first day of the week is not a day to be reverenced. It is a spurious sabbath, and the members of the Lord's family cannot participate with the men who exalt this day, and violate the law of God by trampling upon His Sabbath. The people of God are not to vote to place such men in office; for when they do this, they are partakers with them of the sins which they commit while in office.

We are not [to] compromise principle by yielding to the opinions and prejudices which we may have encouraged before we united with God's commandment-keeping people. We have enlisted in the army of the Lord, and we are not to fight on the enemy's side, but on the side of Christ, where we can be a united whole, in sentiment, in action, in spirit, in fellowship. Those who are Christians indeed will be branches of the true vine, and will bear the same fruit as the vine. They will act in harmony, in Christian fellowship. They will not wear political badges, but the badge of Christ.

What are we to do, then? -- Let political questions alone.

FE 475-476

Considering religious liberty though:

We as a people have not accomplished the work which God has committed to us. We are not ready for the issue to which the enforcement of the Sunday law will bring us. It is our duty, as we see the signs of approaching peril, to arouse to action. Let none sit in calm expectation of the evil, comforting themselves with the belief that this work must go on because prophecy has foretold it, and that the Lord will shelter His people. We are not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of conscience. Fervent, effectual prayer should be ascending to heaven that this calamity may be deferred until we can accomplish the work which has so long been neglected. Let there be most earnest prayer, and then let us work in harmony with our prayers. . . . The people need to be aroused in regard to the dangers of the present time. The watchmen are asleep.

5T 713-715

If you would like to support religious liberty in America, click here to send an email to your US senators and representatives in Congress.

Newsflash

AREA MAN PUBLISHES VERY OWN WEBLOG ABOUT INNER THOUGHTS

Loma Linda, CA -- Ever since he was a boy, Norman McNulty has had thoughts. Now, at age 28, he is publishing them on the web.

Numerous reports have indicated that area man and neurology resident Norman McNulty has begun publishing a blog, an abbreviated term for weblog. Blogging has become a popular pastime for millions of people all over the world. According to Intelliseek's BlogPulse, almost 18 million blogs have been published on the web.

In November 2004, McNulty bought an eMachines computer and opened a subscription with Verizon to receive DSL internet service. Shortly thereafter, he began using it to surf the world wide web. As early as February 2005, he started downloading sermons in mp3 format and listening to them on his computer speakers. He also began checking his email dozens of times a day and browsing the news at cnn.com. But soon, he had some new thoughts.

"I was just taking, taking, taking, but I wasn't giving back," said McNulty, clearly upset at his ungrateful attitude. "It wasn't fair to CNN, it wasn't fair to Lycos, it wasn't fair to the world. I needed to make a change or else I wouldn't have been able to live with myself. Besides, I had so many thoughts."

McNulty's blog, creatively titled "norm's blog," has begun to attract attention from bloggers as far away as Berrien Springs, Michigan and Colton, California. So far, his two entries have received rave reviews from the three users that check them.

"A truly awesome blog. One of the 1,054 wonders of the world. A marvelous integration of form and function. A rallying cry for the Last Generation. A journalism major's dream website..." says Tim Arakawa, fellow blogger and friend of McNulty.

"Hmph... that's not good..." writes Joelle Damsteegt, McNulty's girlfriend who majors in journalism at Andrews University. It is believed that her comments were directed at McNulty's published thoughts.

McNulty plans many more blog entries as he thinks more thoughts. His plans include entries about Joelle, his trips to see Joelle, and his miscellaneous thoughts about Joelle. He also has not ruled out entries about last generation theology, religion, and spiritual things.

"I know that many people have thoughts," said McNulty with a pensive look and furrowed brow. "But I believe that I can make the world a better place by publishing my incredibly insightful observations on the internet. I mean, I've already had two thoughts in the past three days. Who says there aren't others waiting to be shared?"

In the days following the inauguration of "norm's blog," French riots have spread in Paris, FEMA has billed Louisiana $3.7 billion for Katrina, and a Texas death row inmate has escaped from jail.

Veteran blogging commentator Sunny Kim predicts that McNulty can become a prolific blogger if he can learn to "type really, really fast." She also cautioned that content is king, and that McNulty must provide compelling entries that captivate the attention and convict the heart.

"Thoughts are very powerful," Kim states. "Together the thoughts and feelings make up the moral character."

When asked about his thoughts about Kim's thoughts, McNulty stated, "I believe that Ellen White was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit to write these words."

McNulty added: "I think I'll add that to my blog."