Tuesday Notes

DE PEPPER KNOCKOFFS -- There is something for everyone on the Internet -- including a website which rates Dr Pepper knockoffs. (Thanks, metafilter -- I think)
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BIBLE TRANSLATIONS -- One of the most frequently emailed questions from blog readers is, "which translation of the Bible do you use?"

I'm not really locked into a single translation. However, there are three that I use most often. The New Living Translation (NLT) is a wonderful "idea for idea" rendering of the scriptures. Then, on the "word for word" end of the spectrum, the English Standard Version (ESV) is a great translation with a classic feel. In the middle between those two is the Today's New International Version (TNIV), which I've been using quite regularly since it was released in February. It updates about 7% of the language in the New International Version (NIV) -- making it more readable, interesting as literature, and accurate.

Frankly, though, I'm not nearly as concerned about which translation people use (as long as they can understand it). Being "doers of the Word" is more important than arguing over a few nuances of translation.
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BY THE NUMBERS -- Polls show that 90% of Americans identify themselves as being connected with a church. Other evidence suggests that at best 10% of Americans are committed followers of Christ.
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BIGFOOT -- A Canadian company is running a DNA test on a hair sample that residents of Teslin, Yukon, say was left when a large creature they believe to be a sasquatch made a late-night run through town a few weeks ago. Results are due on Thursday and I'm sure CSI Teslin will have a statement.
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IN ALL MY YEARS of doing day camps, vacation Bible schools, summer camps, and children's programs, I have never seen a group of kids get more into it than I have at our VBS this week. For example, last evening I was watching Dan and Karen lead the first and second graders in the music and the motions. And every single kid was really into it -- singing, swinging their arms and jumping up at all the right times -- laughing. The kids are just fully engaged in this kingdom of God safari thing that we're doing.
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EARTHLINK, WHICH WAS my ISP for years (and which provided great service) until I entered the better-product-for-less-money world of broadband, is seeing profits slip in a major way. I was checking the site meter for this blog the other day and noticing that hardly any of you are Earthlink customers. Even fewer are slaves to AOL. There was a time, not long ago, when those two companies dominated the ISP market.
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WE BECOME ATTACHED TO those things we spend our money on. That's why Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) He didn't say, where your heart is there your treasure will be. No, our affections follow our spending habits. What kinds of things are we spending our "treasure" on? Are they things which have eternal significance? Or, are they bigger and better toys which quietly and slowly capture our affections? Frogs in the consumer culture kettle.

Sermon mode off.
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IS ACCESSING SOMEONE ELSE'S OPEN WIRELESS connection illegal? Last month some guy in Florida was arrested for doing so. The controversy continues with a Sacramento cop publicly stating that cantennas -- homemade wireless antennas designed to capture wireless signals from a distance -- are illegal. Interesting interpretation. (BoingBoing also has comments)