Radio 1 Blog

Cross Angle

2009-03-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

I have created a new website/blog for the purpose of fostering spiritual growth among believers. You can now view and comment at www.crossangle.com

Blessings, Seth

Dog sitting

2009-03-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

I now have officially become a dog sitter! I am babysitting a dog for some people who are gone to Honduras on a short missions trip. "Baby Ruffy" - not my choice for a name- is staying with me for approximately two months. He like to sit on the bottom shelf of my desk as you can see above. He is a Yorkie terrier. Note: You can see that even he is a Mac lover!

New website

2009-03-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a new website for Mountain Gospel. I finally put it up last week, even though some bugs and things need to be worked out. Check it out at www.mountaingospel.org, and let me know what you think!

Dog pen

2009-01-24T11:28:00.000-08:00

All week I have been working on a new dog pen for my puppies. I was quite pleased with the results considering I am NOT a builder. It is made out of 2x4s and some chicken wire. God also supplied several of the materials I needed, so I didn't have to even spend much on it! It measures 4 ft. long by 2 ft. wide. I think it will work very well, and give me a place to keep them at night.

Snow!

2009-01-24T10:59:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday night, God gave us a beautiful snowfall. I captured a few pictures Monday night just before sunset. I thought you might enjoy the views just up the hill from my house. Also a picture of the two puppies in the snow!

2009!!!

2009-01-11T12:43:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! I can't believe that I haven't blogged since Thanksgiving, and then again I can. So much has happened in the last two months in my life as I am sure it has in yours. I hope that you and your families have had a wonderful blessed Christmas. I was able to go home to my parents in New Jersey for a week, which was a nice break. Two weeks before Christmas I was busy working on a little recording project for someone. It was a whole new learning curve for me. I wish it would have come out better, but did not really have the time to do that. I hope you have a wonderful new year; we don't know what will happen with the economy and all, but God has all that in control. I think like Charles Dickens said, "It was the best of time; it was the worst of times". Here's to a great 2009!

Three Legged Stool of Holiness

2008-11-27T10:39:00.000-08:00

Here is an idea I have been working on for awhile, and I am not sure I am finished with it yet. I was thinking that holiness is somewhat like a three-legged stool. The three legs would be doctrine, experience, and lifestyle. I believe that holiness must first start as a doctrine. One cannot experience God without first having the right concept of God. For instance if we believe God is a hard taskmaster, then we will experience Him as a taskmaster, even if He really is trying to show us otherwise. It is vital in any Christian experience to have a right conception of God. The same is true about holiness. When people believe in holiness as God has taught it in the Bible, then they can experience God correctly. Our experience of an encounter with the holiness of God, then changes everything about us, or our lifestyle. It is foolish to think that an encounter with the holiness of God does not change us in the way we live at all. We might me able to meet the President of the United States, and it not really effect the way we live, but not so with God. C.S. Lewis said something like we go to God like we go to the dentist. We just want a tooth pulled to alleviate the pain, when God want us to do surgery. Often we want God to fix some hurt, when He is asking to do major open heart surgery. Specifically Lewis said, "If you give Him an inch, He will take an ell." These three element must always come in this order, or holiness is not effective. I did not mean a person must have a theological degree to experience holiness, but they do have to understand what God wants and who God is. And certainly a lifestyle of holiness with out the holiness of God indwelling is mockery and only our own righteousness. Not only do these three elements have to be in order, but they have to all be there, or we will be as useless as a three-legged stool.

Puppies

2008-11-27T10:11:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I see it has been some time since I updated the blog, so I thought I would take the advantage of the day off to catch up. A couple of weeks ago now I bought a pair of Boston Terrier pups to sell. One is a female, and one is a male. This has been a new endeavor for me in learning how to raise dogs. There are doing really well, but do take quite a bit of attention to take care of. So far the responses of interested buyers has been a little slow, so if you are interested in buying, or know someone who is, please email me.

Trip to Red River Gorge

2008-11-04T17:24:00.000-08:00

I had a most interesting trip Monday. I have a family named the Streets that I am friends with down here. Bro Street is a teacher at KMBC. The Street's have a daughter, Alisha, that gradated from GBS this past spring. The missions director at GBS, Daniel Glick, wife had been in Florida for neck surgery. Because of the process there was some doubt as to when she would be able to return to Cincinnati, possibly not until Christmas. Anyway when Sis Street was there for the missions convention, she offered to take the three youngest kids back here to relive Bro. Glick some. They have stayed here with the Streets the past two weeks. Sunday, Bro. Glick came down to possible pick up the children and take them back with him. I enjoyed meeting him Sunday night, and taking missions with him. I found out that he know several people I did. Well, Monday he came over and sat at my table at noon. After lunch he invited me to go with him, Alisha, and Elizabeth (his secretary) to Red River Gorge. I was able to arrange my schedule last minute to go with them. It was absolutely gorgeous. Red River Gorge is in the Daniel Boone National Forest about 40 minutes from here. There is steep cliffs that drop straight down into the gorge, beautiful scenery, natural stone arches, and wonderful hiking trails. To top it off the weather was in the 70's which is unusual for November. The fall colors were indescribable. Of course like a dummy I forgot to take my camera. I did find some pictures on the internet that I have below, but they really don't do justice. So if you want a beautiful relaxing vacation, come visit me and I'll take you to Red River Gorge, providing you'll buy lunch of course!

Sunset this Evening

2008-11-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

Here are some neat pictures of the sun setting that I took up on the mountain across the valley. It was a really beautiful evening. It was an unseasonably warm day for November, in the 70's. I wonder if the warm day contributed to the way the sun set. Hope you enjoy!!!

My Apartment

2008-10-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Some of you might think this is strange, and some of you might not care, but some of you have been asking for pictures of my apartment. I know how risky it is to share info over the Internet, but there is a gun you cannot see in the corner of the bedroom, so beware! If you don't like the look, blame it on the lack of a wife. Later, Seth

Travels

2008-10-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

Over two thousand miles!

Four states!

Six service!

Eleven days!

This was the story of my whirlwind deputation trip. I had the privilege if getting to see many of my dear friends on this trip, and meeting many new and wonderful people. I also enjoyed spending a short - too short- time with my sister Brenda and her new husband, Tim. The churches I had services in were Joplin, MO; Miltonvale, KS; Beaver City, NE; Watertown, SD; Sioux City, IA; and Mitchell, SD. I thank God for His help in the services, for helping me speak, and his keeping my antiquated car from having any major problems. I also am thankful for the good offering that were given in each service. This is especially important as times are hard for everyone. Thanks to all who participated in this. This was a quick trip this time, but perhaps I will have time later on to have more deputation services in some of the eastern states.

Update/Prayer Card

2008-10-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

Greetings Friends,

I see I havn't updated the blog for awhile. That is partly due to not haveing anything interesting to say, partly due to not having consistent internet access, and partly because I am probably too lazy to take the time. Anyway I want to add a few items as I have internet access, I made time, and I have something to write about. I want to put up my prayer card for those of you that havn't seen it yet. If you care to have one, please email me at rcflyer30@gmail.com, and I will try to send you one. Please continue to pray for me as I leave for Kentucky on October the 13th. There are many challenges ahead, but I know God will meet all of them, if I trust Him. Thanks to each one of you who do pray for me, and take time to check the blog.

Over the Weekend

2008-09-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

What did you do over Labor Day weekend? I hope you truly had an enjoyable weekend. I had a fabulous three days at my friend Martin Barnard family's house. Martin's father is pastor at Victory Chapel in Frankfort, In. I had met the Barnards several times before, and was in school with Martin one year at Bible College. However his family was not as acquainted with me. We really had a nice time getting better acquainted. There are six children in the family, with one girl (Mildred) married. One Labor day we went to a small town were part of the Erie canal was still intact. There is a small historic park there. We took a short boat ride up the canal and then toured an old Victorian house. It was interesting to learn how the canal was so important in that period of history, and how the canal system worked. After that we had an enjoyable picnic outside. Suprisingly there were hardly any people there, so it was nice to have the place mostly to ourselves. Other than that we just visited and rested. In my haste to leave, I forgot to take my camera. I real wanted to get a picture of their family for the blog. If I can get one, I'll put it up. Well that's what I did, why don't you write me and tell me about your Labor Day.

Changes!!!

2008-08-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all!

As I've noted in the title above, I have some significant decisions recently, and some major changes in the near future. God has graciously moved and opened a door of oppertunity to minister again in radio ministry. About 8 months or so ago, I was contacted by radio station WMTC in Kentucky about helping them out at their station in Vancleve, KY. I didn't really think that was what I should do, but put it in the back of my mind. After some discussion, they wanted me to at least pay a visit and tour their facilities. Since they offered to pay for it, I thought I could hardly refuse. That was over Memorial Day weekend. All summer I have carefully and prayerfully deliberated about working there full time. To make a long story short, I everything seems to be pointing in the direction of moving ahead. WMTC is a radio station operated under the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association. This is a faith work meaning each worker is responsible for raising his own support. This will of course be a very different financial move for me as well. However I am very excited about this new opportunity. This is much work to be done and I have some ideas I hope I can develop while there. One idea is to create a new teaching/preaching broadcast with a holiness emphasis. The leadership there feels the need for this as well, so hopefully something can be done in that area. Of course this is a different change from what I am doing now, but I feel like God has given me the desire and talents for this ministry. Please pray for me in the days ahead. More details and some pictures coming later on. Regards, Seth

WAR IN GEORGIA!!!

2008-08-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

Why should it matter to us about an conflict in an obscure county half- way around the world? I don't know if you have been following this in the news, but I have been following it fairly closely. On the surface this may seem unimportant, but is it should matter to us. Here's why. Russia under the oppressive leadership of Vladimire Putin has been trying to expand and rebuild the old Russian empire for quite some time now. Now it seems he is ready and willing to carry out his ambitions. Not only has is he trying to regain a country that was a part of the old Soviet Union, but he has another good reason for capturing Georgia. A major oil pipeline runs through Georgia to the sea. According to initial reports, Russia was endeavoring to bomb these pipelines event though they were well outside of the disputed area. Russia, I believe, is playing a carefully calculated chess game. They are trying to get all the energy reserves they can lay there hands on, which will allow them to hand an county over the barrel that gets in their way. Either play by our rules or we'll cut your energy supplies. Last month Russia was the sixth biggest exporter of petroleum to the U.S. with over 700 million barrels a day. (http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html)
Also Russia has been actively working to supply nuclear technology and weapons to Iran for years. Although with seemingly very different motives in mind, this Russia-Iran alliance is beneficial for both countries. Iran need weapons and technology that Russia has; Russia needed quick cash to fund it's expansionistic goals. You can see how maybe this all plays into end time prophecy at www.joelrosenberg.com, even though we don't know how everything plays out in the end. Also I post this video from Georgian President Mikheil Saakasvhii, which gives a good indication about what is happening there now. I hope you'll take time to read it. Whatever happens is in God's hands, but I think it is a good time to pray for the Georgian people in this crisis. Most of all they need to know of God's redemption through salvation.

Airshow!!!

2008-08-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

A week from last Saturday, I went to the airshow/exbition at EAA Air Venture in Oshkosh, WI. This is probably the biggest airshow event in this country. There is hundreds of planes and booth on display as well as a daily airshow. It was an awsome event, if you like this kind of thing. Here are some pictures I took. I wish some of them were better. I guess I will not describe them all since it probably wouldn't matter to most of you all. I also spent some time in the mission aviation tent, which was really neat. Hobe Sound Bible College had a table there to represent their aviation program, so I spent quite a bit of time talking to them. It was hard to believe someone from Hobe Sound would be in Wisconsin, but I guess it really is a small world after all! If you want to know more about the airshow, shoot me an email and I would be happy to reply. God bless and have a great day!!!

More Pictures from Colorado

2008-08-01T11:41:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures from my trip to Colorado for my sister's wedding. On Thursday night before the wedding, some friends and I went climb in the beautiful hills of Red Feather Lake, Colorado. My friend Brent Susan, his dad James Susan, Tim's brother Jeffrey and Randy, and another friend David Graf, made up the crew. Also Randy's wife Joy went along. The scenery was beautiful and we had a great time. Hope you enjoy!!!

WEDDING!!!

2008-07-16T12:09:00.001-07:00

Last week my sister Brenda, and Tim Albertson were married in Red Feather Lake, Co. at Chapel in the Pines. It was a very nice, beautiful wedding. Here are a few various pictures I selected for the blog. Sorry about the randomness of them. You can see they are not in order. You can see more pics at http://www.johnstownalbertsons.blogspot.com/. Brenda and Tim are making their new home in Joplin, Mo.

Fourth of July

2008-07-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful 4th of July at Old World Wisconsin, which is an Eighteenth Century settlement. It shows the life of immigrants in the eighteenth century through different activities and buildings. On the fourth they had a special celebration and activities, such as a parade, an egg toss, pie eating contest, and greased pole climbing contest. It was a really fun day. Also the tenor of the celebrations were very refreshing in nature, and so different from many modern 4th of July activities today. Here are several pictures from my day.

Learning how to play the shell game.

A house decorated for the occasion The 4th of July celebrations.

This was too funny! Making fun of Darwin's theory of evolution.

The bandmaster leading the parade.

Haveing snacks!!!
Learning how to roll hoops!

The traveling band.

Singing hymns in the church. One of my favorite parts of the day.

Have Fervent Love

2008-06-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cove the multitude of sins. I Peter 4:7

I have noticed a few things among Christians that I would like to address. Among us conservative Christians we tend to have a lot of ideas about every topic and idea that we believe are Scriptural. And well it should be. This is called a world view, or how we look at things, and it should be shaped by Scripture. However there is a downside to all of us as conservatives, and could be a well set trap by the Devil. I have read and seen many good Christians attack each other condemning them as unscriptural and unchristian. The thinking goes something like this. Brother X has certain beliefs, ideas, writings which I did not think are quite Scriptural, therefore he must not be a Christian and must be labeled and avoided at all costs. Now I am not speaking about those who are preaching a false gospels or heretical doctrine. I mean those who have a worldview on a certain subject that we feel is not on as Scripturally solid ground as my own idea. Often conservative churches split and divide over such things. While liberals say they love everyone, what they really mean is that they accept everyone without necessarily loving them at all. On the other hand, conservatives in an effort to guard doctrinal and outward purity, often fail to maintain love even among themselves. There is an important truth here, there is an hierarchy of ideas; not of people. By that I mean there there is some ideas that are more Biblical then others, and therefore better. But people are of intrinsic worth, that is of eternal value because they were made by God. We are never commanded to love people's ideas; we are commanded to love them. I John 4:20, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Unity does not mean we have to agree in everything. Again I am not talking about joining ourselves with everyone out there that names the name of Christ. For example, I do not believe in many of the tenants of Calvinism to be Scriptural, however there are those of Calvinistic persuasion who are far more Godly than I am. However, I likely will have trouble joining closely with him in his work because of differences in ideas. I still must love him however.
As we grow in the Lord as Christians we will become more and more conformed to the image of Christ in our minds, and gain more discernment about how to live in an ungodly world. As we do this, we may become more conservative in our ideas and life, and therefore less like our fellow Christians. This is becoming conformed into the image of Christ. But gaining just knowledge is not enough. Remember knowledge "puffs up". And herein lies the danger. Knowledge must be relational for it to be any good. If your knowledge does not bring you in a closer relationship to Christ, it is of no value to you even if it is true. I Corinthians 13 tells us if we have all knowledge without love it is worth nothing. Therefore to gain knowledge is essential, but not at the expense of love. Knowledge should grow as we grow spiritually, and knowledge should be gained in order to increase our relationship to God. But love is not based on our knowledge as we have said. Love, as we are using the word here, is an strong affection or desire for. This may be so if you has much knowledge as the Apostle Paul, or as little as the most pagan heathen. This love comes from God. It was said of the early Christians, "Behold how they love one another". Notice that they were not a perfect church, nor were they in agreement in all things. They were in unity, however because of this love. This is know in theology as Agape love, or what C. S. Lewis says, "Is an unconditional love directed towards one's neighbor which is not dependant on any lovable qualities that the object of love possesses." This is the strongest love we know of. This is the love which God loves us with. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." I John 4:10 God loved us before we loved Him. And if our brother is genuinely saved, he or she is a son of God, and how much then should we love them.
In conclusion, as conservatives we are and should be against some ideas and things. But love is not bringing my brother in unity with how I think. Unity is a bond that is occasioned because we love the same thing, that is God. Knowledge must inform my relationship to God and inform my love. Knowledge can then be shared with my brother, not to make him like me, but to help him to love God better. This love must come from God, and is not occasioned because my brother is lovable in mine eyes. My brother is a child of God, and not to love him is to deny him of his Sonship with God. This is why I John says that we cannot love God and still hate our brother. Love is not based on how much my brother knows, but on his relationship with Christ. Oh, how many problems this would solve in our conservative churches if all would practice these principles! Brethren, let us Love.

Good Article!!!

2008-06-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

Here is an excellent article on Conservative Holiness People written by Keith Drury, who wrote Holiness for Ordinary People. It exemplifies some of the good points of our people. It doesn't take long to read, please take a moment to read, and then let me know your thoughts. Regards, Seth

http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/like.old.fashioned.holiness.people.htm

Project

2008-06-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

For quite awhile I have been helping my Pastor's 12 year old son Andrew finish a built-in wooden hutch in the dining room. It has been a big project, but we are almost finished. We have spent many, many hour sanding and just stained it last week. Here is a picture of us working on it, however you may not be able to see the hutch very well. I will have to take a picture when it is all finished so you can see the end result.

Myth of Adolescencse

2008-06-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a terrible blog by a young man entitled The Myth of Adolesence. I hope you will read it. There is a second part as well. I think he is right on. We need to stop telling our young people that they can't do anything and expect more of them. Please let me know your thought on this article!!!

http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/08/myth-of-adolescence-part-1/

New Computer

2008-06-11T06:52:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Recently my desktop computer's power supply and motherboard failed. In trying to fix it I ended up frying some other parts. I took it to a local computer guy here in town, and he said that it would be cheaper to start new rather that keep throwing money at this one to fix it. Even though it was only three years old, all the components were outdated and it is hard to get parts. I spent about a week of research and price comparing on both laptops and desktops. Finally I decided to go a completely different route. I could get a new Mac Mini for about the same money as I would spend on a new Dell or Hp laptop. I had been wanting to get into the Apple market for a while, but the price was always prohibitive. The Mac Mini is a reasonable fast computer for a reasonable price. It has a Intel Due Core processor, 80 GB of harddrive space, and 1 Gb of Ram. It also comes with 4 USB ports, a firewire port, and measures 6.5 by 6.5 by 2 inches. One drawback is that is does not come with mouse, keyboard, or monitor. However i already had all of these. It comes with the Leopard OSX operating system, and with the Intel processor and the Leopard system you can actually install Windows XP on this computer and operate in either Leopard or XP. Some of the features and the graphics are vastly superior to Windows in my opinion. All in all a nice little machine!!! I hope it serves me years to come and can be used for the Lord's work.

2008-05-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

Trip to Kentucky

2008-05-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

I recently had the opportunity (over the Memorial Day Weekend) to visit radio station WMTC in Vancleve, KY. This is a holiness radio station that has been around since 1948 I believe. It was a privelege to meet everyone there. Here are some pics. They operate on the FM at 99.9 and on the AM at 720. The station is run under the auspices of the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association.

Here is the Main studio.

And the outside of the station.

The FM Tower in the distance

Here is the station from the top of what is known as Wildcat Mountain. The radio building is hard to see because of the size of the picture, but is the building in the far distance right beside the Y split in the road, on the left hand side.

Check this definition out!

2008-04-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

I came across a excellent quote on what holiness is by J. C. Ryle in doing some research the other day; I just had to share it.

"Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. He who most entirely agrees with God, he is the most holy man." - J. C. Ryle

Trip

2008-04-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

On Friday March 28 through Monday the 31st I was privileged to be at the Arms Around the World Convention in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is headed up by Steve Sturtevant. The evening evangelist was Bro. Ken Thompson. Jonathan Lucas with Mission Helps was one of the other session speakers that I heard, and Bro Sturtevant spoke about his prison ministry. I also got to spend time with my sister Brenda who lives in Johnstown, Co and my adopted family the Johnstown Albertsons. With the exception of being sick the whole time it was a really enjoyable trip.

Revival

2008-03-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

Greetings Everyone,

This week we are in revival with Evangelist David Street. He has brought some excellent message. Last night's message was entitled Five Theories and One Fact. It was about the five false theories of sanctification and the one true Scriptural fact, that is that the Bible tells us we CAN be free from all sin. Pray for this church, as we are in desperate need of revival. Pray that many will go on to Holiness. Adios for now.

Election '08

2008-03-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

What a year it has been politically! The rollercoaster of candidates moving up and down, not to speak of all the pundits and their opinions. Up to this point I have been supporting Mike Huckabee, not just because of his stand on moral issue, but of his honesty. Whether you agree with his policies or not, he is one of those very rare politicians, who I believe will tell the way he sees it, and then stick to it. However, with his defeat yesterday he is no longer a livable option. It is with heavy heart today I view our country and its future. Not because Mike Huckabee is no longer in the race, but over the choices of this generation. Some might vote for McCain in November, but I don't feel that will accomplish much. However I don't want to be too pessimistic!While I don't have much confidence in our politicians there is still hope. I believe it is time to come to the realization as Diedrich Bonhoffer did, that we are to be Christians first, and countrymen second. The Bible tells us NOT to put confidence in men. I believe like Daniel we need to be men and women of character in the midst of evil generation. Do you realize that through Daniels testimony of a Godly life, three pagan kings were forced to recognize the power and presence of God? I believe God wants us to be like that. I more and more realize that our job as Christians is not to reform government, but to reform men. When we are not willing to compromise in our own lives, no matter what the cost, then God can work through us. Now, don't think that I am unpatriotic, because I am not. The Bible tells us that in Proverbs 21:2 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. God also sets up nations and takes them down as well. I believe he wants us to be faithful, serve Him, and see Him work.

My Pastor

2008-02-25T10:47:00.000-08:00

Hi. This is my Pastor Tom Rodriguez, his wife Deborah, and his family. The children are as follows: Leah (18), Jonathan (16), Andrew (12), Joel (9), Elizabeth (7), and Joy (4). The church is South Milwaukee Church of the Nazerene. God providentally lead me to Pastor Tom when I was here to do my internship in radio. Although it is a Nazene church in name, Pastor Tom and his family as very conservative. God is giving me the privilege of working along side of them, while I am be discipled in ministry. The church's average attendance is around 30 people. Currently I am leading the men's Bible study, and helping to disciple others. I thank the Lord for being a small part in His vineyard.

What I'm Reading

2008-02-21T10:20:00.001-08:00

I am currently read a new book by Dr. Stephen Gibson, called The Sincerity of God. It explains the six principles of hermanutics used by evangelicals, and a seventh added by Wesleyans called the Promise Hemanutic. He looks at 120 commentators on I Thess. 5:23 and shows how they interpret sanctification in this passage. It is really good and a great study aid. Dr. Gibson pastors at Victory Chapel with Victory Inner-city Ministries. He is an adjunct teacher at God's Bible School, and Allegheny Wesleyan College. He also has taught previously at Union Bible College and at Kiev Wesley Bible College. If you get a chance to read this book, I highly recommended it, especially if you are in ministry of any kind.

Update!!!

2008-02-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

I have Seriously neglected to update this blog. Part of the reason has been I don't have internet access at home, but still that is a lousy excuse! I am going to try to start this blogging thing again, and hopefully keep it current!

Holy Living in an Age of Media

2008-02-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

I have just read an interesting post on Michael Wright's blog on Technology. You can find it at http://mjwsjw.wordpress.com/ . I found it thought provoking and interesting. I have given considerable thought to this subject and wanted to inject some thoughts. Blogging helps to lay out some thought I have had on numerous subjects. Like Michael, I believe that we need to form principles from Scripture that last beyond our generation and stand the test in our children's lifetimes and the future. I believe we often do not give meaningfull, reasonable, Scriptural answers to DVD's, Internet, Computers, and Television. In our conservative holiness circles, I'm afraid we often only discuss on the surface of the issue, and fail to plumb what I would call the root cause of the issue. Neither can we ignore these issue as Michael pointed out, because they are here to stay, and there will be even more issues tomorrow. First of all I do not believe it is good enough to say that we will only have "good" entertainment and leave out the "bad" entertainment. We must then distinguish what is good and what is bad according to Scripture. Often we might not might ok what we think is good clean entertainment. One of the biggest reasons I do not have a television is not that there might be some good educational material, but that what many would allow is good is actuall detrimintal. Let me explain. I might watch a perfectly good National Geographic program with no inherent bad content. However, their is so much humanitic, evolutionistic bent that is so opposed to what I believe. I might be able to shrug it off, but will my child be able to set there and do the same? Often the message behind the message on TV corrupts the program. This is very evident with DVD's as well. This media is so powerful because the message is often subtily woven throughout the story line. Of course this excludes some documentaries. The storyline often is the only thing that we see, but the message is the important part of any movie. Because of the visual content, the message is directly fastened in our minds with very little critical thinking required. . That is why Jesus said that "if the eye be single, the whole body is filled with light". The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Matthew 6:22 The eye is a gateway to the mind. Now this can be a very good or bad depending on the message of the producer. Unfortunately there are very few Christian producers with a Biblical worldview. One such producer is Dave and Rich Christiano. Rich made this point one time with an audience. He randomely picked a person out of the audience and asked him what his pastor had preached on the last Sunday. The man embarressedly struggled to remember, and then turned to his wife next to him for help. She didn't remember either! Then Rich asked it he had every seen the movie the Wizard of Oz. The man replied that he had. Rich asked how long it had been since he had seen it. He replied that it was probably 10 or 15 years. Then Rich asked him if he remember certain details. The man clearly remember specific events of the movie that he had not seen for years! Rich makes the point that movies are very power mediums to capture our imaginations, and shape our thinking. The message is often then in the medium. Therefore if our eye is to be single to God, then we must evalute every medium and see if the message is compatible with a Christian's worldview. Secondly all our thinks, words, and actions must aline with the spirit of Christ. I Cor. 10:31 says, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. This should be the principle that governs all our life. I have been moved deeply by some use of the video. One such video was the life of Hudson Taylor. To see his trust in God and his struggles helped but my life in perspective at the time. On the other hand, some may evaluate these technologies and decide not to use them. I can see their point. However I believe it is possible to use technology and live a life of complete holiness unto the Lord!

Week 2!

2007-09-28T20:02:00.001-07:00

Greetings!

Well week two has passed! This week was somewhat slower than last week schedule wise. Gordon Morris was on vacation this week and since he is the main one I will be training with, there wasn't as much activity. This week I mainly asked questions and observed what people did. I was able to gain quite a bit of knowledge and insight that way. There is a lot more to running a radio station that you would think. There are many background activities in order to keep things running smoothly.
I wanted to tell you about something interesting that happened last night. I was looking at old slides with Vic Eliason that he was putting together for a celebration of 50 years of ministry there are having for him here on October 14th. He sure had many interesting memories and stories. After that he wanted my to come into his studio where he has a piano and several organs. He played and I sang at 11:00 at night. He told me the story of how the Lord led his father, Oscar Eliason, to write the well known song, There is a Name I Highly Treasure. God poured the words of this song into his heart one day, and this song would go on to be a well loved favorite. I thought I would finish with the words of this song, and I hope we all will treasure that Name!

Yours Truly,

"A Name I Highly Treasure"
Verse: 1 I've learned to know a name I highly treasure.

O how it thrills my spirit through and through!

O precious name, beyond degree or measure,

My heart is stirred when-e'er I think of You!

Refrain: My heart is stirred when-e'er I think of Jesus,

That blessed name which sets the captive free

The only name through which I find salvation.

No name on earth has meant so much to me.

Verse 2: That name brings gladness to a soul in sorrow.

It makes life's shadows and its clouds depart

Brings strength in weakness for today, tomorrow.

That names brings healing to an aching heart.

Verse 3: That name still lives and will live on forever,

While kings and kingdoms will forgotten be.

Through mist or rain, 'twill be beclouded never,

That name shall shine and shine eternally.

My Room!

2007-09-27T14:59:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by seth.stevenson

VCY America Headquarters

2007-09-24T18:38:00.001-07:00

VCY America Headquarters
Originally uploaded by seth.stevenson

Good Evening!

Just a little update. Today I spend time observing more aspects of the day to day life of how a broadcast station works. This morning I went with Vic Eliason and Paul McClain (the maintenance director) out to the transmitter and tower site out in another part of the city. It was really neat to see that. The transmitter output 10,000 watts on a 495 ft. tower. That's a lot of electricity!
Yesterday I went to a small holiness Nazarene church. I really enjoyed it. The pastor's name was Don Rodriquez and they have a family of six. They invited me to come over for lunch after service. Well until later, have a great night!

Week 1

2007-09-22T19:17:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by seth.stevenson

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Wow, what a busy last few days. We had the quartly sharathon here Thursday and Friday. They call it the Day of Praise sharathon. This is where they set aside two days every four months to raise funds for the station, as they are supported only by donations. I helped man the phones for people calling in pledges. These pledges are tallied and read on the air. I also got a little action on calling screening. In addition to taking pledges, people can call in and share what Christian broadcasting means to them. Call screeners are the people who take people's calls before they go on the air. You have to get their first name and location, and type it into the computer. The host on the other side of the glass in the studio then can pick up the calls off of hold and put them on the air. It is kind of fun if people are calling in. If they are not, then then it can get a little boring. The picture you see here is Vic Eliason the Vice President here in the studio doing their live call in program "Crosstalk". You can visit the Crosstalk website at http://www.crosstalkamerica.com/. They talk about a variety of issues from a Christian perspective. Well hope to catch up with you all next week. Have a great Sabbath!!!

Studio "E"

2007-09-22T17:07:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by seth.stevenson

Here is the "Crosstalk" studio.

Studio "C"

2007-09-22T16:52:00.001-07:00

This is Gordon Morris engineering the "Faith 2 Action" program in Studio "C".

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Originally uploaded by seth.stevenson

First Day!

2007-09-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

Good Evening All!

Today was my first day at VCY America Radio Network here in Milwaukee for my internship. I am planning to be here a month or so. I am really excited to be here. It really is a life long dream come true! Today I must spent most of the day "looking over people's shoulders" observing their jobs! Most of the time was with Gordon Morris the operations director. I saw how they edit "logs" for the automated computer system, observed Gordon engineer Faith to Action, a live call in show with Janet Folger, and a host of other thing. Tonight Vic Eliason, the vice-president and main person around here, his son, and I had supper together at a nice little resturant. Well I had better sign off for tonight. Tomorrow and Friday is one of there quarterly share-a-thons, and we are starting at 7:00 Central, so I need to be up before that. Until later, God bless and goodnight.