Kenny Elliott's | The Fluffy Gentle Grizzly

There are only 7 Billion of us in the WHOLE universe. If people grasped the concept of how truly small that number is compared to its depth and width, then love, respect and mercy would flood the streets. We were created in the image of the person who made that universe. So when you see another person you are looking at the heart of God. Treat people with grace, because grace has been poured out to us.

"One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the discussion. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." - Mark 12:28-31, NLT

Let's take a second to think of who Jesus is, who He really is, who He really was as He walked the streets of Old Israel. As He walked the roads of His region He had 1000's that would come just to hear Him talk, and even just to touch the hem of His robe. They flocked to be healed of diseases and illnesses. He protected the weak, He spoke life into the broken and He clashed with the proud. He was a man who was consistently kind and gentle to those who were considered useless and untouchable by society. He was full of love and strength and people flocked to Him, because He literally spoke life into them. He was God in the flesh with a plan, a plan to bring His lost, broken and sickly children back to Himself, through Himself. His plan was to show just how much He loved us all. A plan to show how much He thought we were worth. He told us with His actions that He thinks we were worth His very life blood and breath.

Now, flash forward 2010 years, and let's look back at the legacy Christians, which means little christs, have left in the wake of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. Sure, in the book of Acts we see how early on the Church, which is the body of Christ, loved and served each other in humility and love. They strove to be like Jesus, merciful and gracious. They took care of one another, and gave to each other in a way not seen since. No, they weren't perfect, but they wrestled with God, and the unparalleled event of Him stepping into our realm in human skin. They told other Jews about His amazing acts, and even wrote letters encouraging one another to follow Him with a humble holiness. They taught each other to follow Jesus' words and the Scriptures in light of Him coming to this earth to bring them to Himself.

Read the rest of this post »

So I have finally sat down to write my feelings about Alpha Males. Well, really Super Alpha Males. My dislike for Super Alpha Males was #2 on my Pet Peeves list, "Super Alpha Males - I understand leadership, but a man who has to destroy others or use fear to lead is nothing but a coward clawing for worth." Now, I am not talking about hard working strong leaders that work their rear ends off along side of you to get what has to be done...done. I am talking about the cruel boss, policeman, politician, pastor or pretty much any wanna-be that has to belittle those "below" him to make himself feel oh so special.

We've all known the type. They yell, kick and scream until they make sure you know that you are the most insignificant peon in the universe compared to them. In the workplace they lord over you putting you on edge, and micro-manage you until you want to pull all of your hair out, quit your job and put on a straight-jacket. Maybe, it's a Police Officer going out of his way to be a bottle of Summer's Eve when you've been nothing but civil. Perhaps it's a Politician who thinks he knows everything, and listens to nobody and makes horrible decisions for us all. It could be a Pastor who has no grace when he preaches and talks to people, or is cruel to his staff. For students at school it could be a bully that makes your life a living h3ll.

What's funny is that those people think they are forcing those "under" them to respect them because they treat a person horribly. But in reality what they take to be strength is showing those around him/her that they live in fear, and have little or no self-confidence. Sure, it may look like over-confidence sometimes, but that is just a disguise. Many Super Alpha Males over-compensate, because they lack fulfillment, and are trying to attain it through their position, and they have an emptiness inside that they try to fill through controlling everything and everyone around them.

Here's a list of what an abusive leader looks like:

Read the rest of this post »

...and Why Young Evangelicals Reject Churches That Try To Be Cool

Read the rest of this post »

The world is changing the next chapter in Social Media is opening up. You may have seen me post Status Updates using Foursquare or Gowalla, and now Facebook has just unleashed Places. Even though Places just shows where you are at, Gowalla and Foursquare are actually Location Based Social Media games that a person can "check-in" to restaurants, work, stores, sports events, parks or anywhere really. With those games you can show your friends where you are in the hopes they want to meet you or get fun badges, and even become "The Mayor" of a restaurant or a place. Some stores and restaurants are even beginning to give discounts if you check-in or are the Mayor in the hopes your friends will see that you are there, thus giving them more business. So it won't be long before people have an incentive to check-in to their favorite places.

Social Media services, like Facebook, has reconnected me with so many old friends, classmates and family, and I love that aspect of it. What's cool about the new Location Based aspect is that it looks like technology is going to bring us out of our computer chairs, and back in front of people and our communities again. The video above shows some of the neat ways we can reconnect with each other. With the game aspect in Foursquare and Gowalla, and the ability to leave a location based note/comment/tip it encourages a person to get out and explore the world, and to get moving to earn badges and stamps instead of vegging out in front of a monitor or a television. It's a great way to learn about new restaurants and their food and their good or bad service, a sale at a store or the gentlest Dentist. When you are traveling you can know where the best places to stop for auto repair or a quick bite to eat with Location Based Travel apps like AroundMe, WHERE, and Yelp!. Valerie and I used these for the first time recently while on the road to and from Tennessee, and found some pretty cool stuff.

But how safe is all this, the privacy implications are astronomical?

Read the rest of this post »

WANT!

I just read something very sad, that has given me ammunition against lust and infidelity. Sure, I know the scriptures and I know what Jesus said about divorce. God said He HATES divorce, and in the Old Testament did you know they used to stone those who cheated on a spouse? Shoot, in the New Testament the Adulterous Woman was about to be stoned for it if it weren't for the grace of Christ.

Jesus took things to a different level about adultery when He said, "If you look at a woman lustfully you have already committed adultery in your heart." Gulp. Yeah, all men are hosed! If it were't for Jesus and the cross we would have no hope for being right with God or our wives. And if it weren't for the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures we would not hope to renew our minds and eyes after salvation, and throughout our faith walk with Jesus. 

Those things are pretty deep, and pretty intense reasons to keep your mind focused on God and our own wives. Those are the main reasons. But that is not the ammunition I was talking about, that is where you begin. What I am talking about is a sad end.

Read the rest of this post »

...and you know what? "I feel fine!"

It was just time. I never used it anymore, and all my friends...plus...are on Facebook now. I never really liked Myspace, because it was way too cluttered, and each persons page was way too different. Being a graphic and web designer my eyes bled so much looking at some of those pages. And the worst...AUTO PLAY MUSIC! I will not miss that!

If you do not like random comedy, then do not watch this!

"There is nothing more grotesque than those who act as if their life is perfect, and that their soul has no flaws."

This is also on Jadon's Christmas list!

Read the rest of this post »

Wow! They have really improved robotics in the last year! I am definitely getting one this Christmas for Jadon!

"I have decided if a person doesn't ask questions and sometimes have doubts about their faith, Church and life, then they are either legless sheep or a blind wolf."