richard's notions.

i have noticed that the christian community today is extremely slow to accept the correction of others, no matter how it is given; whether humbly or in pride.

i have noticed that when correction is given, and the corrected feels attacked, they do not seek out reconciliation (or even clarification) with the corrector.

i have noticed that, contrary to what some people think, we as people are very slow to actually point out someone else's sin. we are too concerned with whether or not we are being judgemental to actually take a risk and help a brother who is stumbling.

i have noticed that in the large majority of cases, if you point out someone's sin to them, they become bitter and accuse you of being proud. in rare cases, they may even accuse you of hating them.

i have noticed that when we admit our own sinfulness (especially in specific areas), we somehow feel more holy.

i have noticed that most people in the church today believe it is far more acceptable to overlook sin than appear to be judgmental. related to that, i have noticed that most people in the church would rather ignore their brother's sinfulness than appear, in someone else's eyes, to be seeking revenge or being angry.

i have noticed that many people today are too sensitive.

i have noticed that peope sometimes make charges against others that they, themselves, are guilty of in the very context they are making the charges.

i have noticed that people often apologize when they haven't sinned against anyone, and rarely apologize when they have.

i have noticed that we like to say christians should be radical, but rarely appreciate it when someone actually is.


-just a few things i've noticed.

posted by Richard Okimoto at 23:57.

finally, back online!

posted by Richard Okimoto at 12:53.

okay. i've tried one more free messageboard, and i definitely like it the best.

for the last time: the new back40!

posted by Richard Okimoto at 10:42.

i checked out aimoo.com, and they seemed to be better. so i made a board there, too.

ladies and gentlemen, the new back40 (again)

posted by Richard Okimoto at 09:37.

well, it looks like the back40 isn't coming back. it's been gone since friday morning. my hunch is that wwwboard has gone belly up. in fact... i bet it died some time ago, when the banner adds stopped. but they just allowed the boards to go on until their contract was up... and then POOF... they were gone. of course, that's just my theory.

so i started a new back40, with ezboard: http://pub66.ezboard.com/btheback40.

it has banner ads, and that's really annoying, so maybe i'll try something else. but until then, we can try ezboard.

let me know if you hate it or love it.

posted by Richard Okimoto at 09:03.

i believe that scripture teaches the headship of man. i believe that men are actually supposed to be masculine. it's sad to admit that the majority of men in the church today have lost their masculinity, and, at best, have settled for cheap imitations. men being harsh dictators in their relationships is one good example. another, which is probably more prevalent, is the man that gives in to whatever his wife wants. she'll ask him something, he gives his answer, and then she questions it. so he just gives in, and says she didn't really want his opinion anyhow, and goes back to watching espn. this man is spineless, and anything but masculine.

another aspect of being masculine is being the initiator. to take risks. show a little bravery, man! last night megan and i saw this show on television. 'surprise weddings', on fox. the idea goes like this: several women want to get married, but their boyfriends have shown a lack of interest in the idea. so they make up some story to get their boyfriends to come out to las vegas with them. there, they get all dudded up in a wedding gown, and then stand in front of an audience of a thousand or so, and surprise their boyfriends by proposing to them... in front of the audience... and on television.
the boyfriends then get some time in a room, by themselves, to decide whether or not they'll marry their girlfriend right there, in front of the audience.

now, despite the fact that this shows an extremely low opinion of marriage, these men are wimps. they are in the woman's role, and these women are leading the relationships. one of these men even said he couldn't do it because she asked him. so he then asked her right there. i'm sure this man thought he was being masculine by doing this, and at first glance you may agree with him. but he was not. there was no risk involved. he was following her lead, while deceiving himself into thinking that he was initiating things.
one other man said no. he said he wanted to speak to her father first, and then they would get married properly.. with their family and friends witnessing. this man was the most respectful of them all. he didn't want to get married (by a chaplain that required the bride and groom to "look deeply into each other's eyes" while taking their vows) in such a foolish way. he wanted his family and friends to witness his covenant vows. and most importantly, he wanted to consult her father, and receive his permission and blessing before taking his daughter.

points to learn there.

posted by Richard Okimoto at 10:23.

so i heard bebo's new album. i'm not impressed. i heard waterdeep's new album. i'm not impressed.

bebo's cd sounds so... typical. like so much other stuff on the radio. candypop.

waterdeep's isn't bad, but i'm just not into rock music these days.

i also learned that caedmon's new praise cd is going to be released september 11th. that's the same time frame as andrew peterson's new album. i wonder if i'll have enough money to buy both of them. i doubt it. maybe if i get this new job. that'd be nice. if not, i'm opting for andy's.

posted by Richard Okimoto at 15:26.