A Christmas poem

The Christmas Star shows the way
To the manger in Bethlehem
Filled with hay

The animals gave watch
As our dear Lord was born
On a crisp Christmas morn

Christ came to save us all
Man was lost in sin
Since the Fall

Out of love
Christ came to earth
To win us second birth

Repent and submit to Him too
Be born again
Your life is anew

Make Christ your Lord
And Savior today
Do not delay

So rejoice and be glad
Eternal life
Is now had

Decorate the Christmas tree
Sing carols and stroll in the snow
Have some egg nog and let your cheeks glow

Have colored lights that shimmer so bright
May there be peace on earth
On this magical Christmas night

So be jolly and full of cheer
Let Christmas mirth
Herald Christ's birth

(c) 2014 Zachary Uram

More on tattoos

I must admit that I *hate* tattoos. When I see them I feel a strong sense of revulsion. When  a girl has tattoos it seems even worse. I have seen many girls who were beautiful, yet they ruined their beauty by getting awful tattoos. The trend used to be that women would get a small tattoo on their wrist or ankle, but now the trend seems to be huge garish tattoos which cover the entire arm or half of their leg. I could not bear to marry a girl who had tattoos. It would drive me crazy! I know we have freedom in Christ, but it's interesting that tattoos were forbidden in the Old Testament. Only pagans got them! Tattoos are now so prevalent in my city among 18-50 year olds that I think those who don't have them are actually now in the minority!

tattoos and piercings

I know this may come off as a rant, but I needed to vent. It seems that I am one of the few people left in America under 40 who doesn't have a tattoo or piercing! It's sad to see how prevalent this is among Christians. It is an extremely widespread practice and is nearly ubiquitous now. When I take the bus to our local supermarket I pass 4 tattoo/piercing places! That is 4 businesses in a 7 minute bus ride. And the trend used to be for women to get a small tattoo on their wrist or their ankle, now the trend seems to be to get huge garish disgusting tattoos that cover their entire arm or leg! Another trend is to get numerous medium sized tattoos on the arms, legs and chest. And I see these guys with tattoos on their neck and even face!!! NO ONE WILL HIRE YOU MORONS! People say that tattoos fade and distort over time and that's true, but I think the vast majority of the tattoos I see are simply hideous and revolting even now. And what's with all the young women with pierced navels! It's the new "tramp stamp" (tattoo on lower back just above the bum) I guess! I wish parents would train up their children in the ways of the Lord and not allow them to succumb so easily to this foolishness. I wish I could take a bus ride or walk down the street without seeing MULTIPLE people with tattoos. Sigh.

Even though we as Christians are no longer under the Law it is a good idea to see what Scripture has to say about tattoos and body piercings.

“Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.” - Leviticus 19:28

Tattoos and body piercings were pagan practices.

We should ask ourselves if we are doing something which honors God. I think you'll find that nearly all tattoos and body piercings are NOT honoring God. Remember: 

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Further, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit so that is another reason we should keep them pure and undefiled by such pagan practices.  

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” -  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

By the way, in a study performed by Rovardo & Colleen, 2010 women with body piercings were found to be more likely than women without to have premarital sex.

Nearly half of 26-40-year-olds (40%) and 36% of 18-25-year-olds have tattoos, and 22% of 26-40-year-olds and 30% of 18-25-year-olds have at least one body piercing, according to the Pew Research Center.

Finally I want to implore you, the reader, to think very carefully and to use discernment and prayer before getting a tattoo or body piercing. Ask yourself if what you are doing is honoring God or is it a manifestation of ego or narcissism. Once you get a tattoo it is permanent for all practical purposes. It is possible to remove tattoos using laser treatment, but it is very expensive and from what I've heard also very painful.

Evening showers

Cool waters
Drench the earth

A feast
Of sound

Claps of thunder
Loud and foreboding

Lightning sizzles
Glowing hot

I listen
Transfixed

Rain drops
Tap at my window

A fresh scent
Rebirth

Seeds will grow
Life moves on

The symphony
Delights my ears

Time slows
Earth is replenished

We will partake
In living waters

Come to Christ
and thirst no more

by Zachary Uram (c) 2014

Sniper Elite

Sniper Elite is one of my all time favorite games. It was released in 2005 and although some of the graphics are a bit dated, the gameplay is still fantastic. I played single player mode, but recently I hooked up with the IDS clan and plan on playing some multiplayer games with them thanks to a hacked SniperElite.exe woot!

Below are some screenshots I took 4.5 years ago when I was playing heavily. Sadly due to my severe depression I often lack the motivation to play games. But I hope to force myself to do more gaming since it is very fun and helps me to relax. I should mention that there is also Sniper Elite version 2 which I have, but haven't played much (1.5 hours) yet as well as Sniper Elite version 3 which will be released on the 27th of this month. I plan on buying that!

Now you die! Here is an interesting shot, it shows you the bullet cam perspective (the point of view is just slightly behind the bullet) which shows the trajectory.

This is truly epic! A new record for a head shot kill in sniper elite - 312 meter! Woo hoo! Shot him in the left eye with a westerly blowing wind and through 2 tree limbs and under a street sign. THIS IS MY MOST SATISFYING KILL SHOT EVER! YES!

WOW!!! Just made a 472 meter kill shot in Sniper Elite! That is 1,548.56 feet!
Operation: The Scientists, Mission: Anhalter Station
It was a head shot, and a covert kill and my all time longest shot! I AM SO HAPPY! I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS MOMENT!

Here is a zoomed out view of my epic long range shot to show you how far away I was! This is from the 492 meter kill shot I posted above.

Here is a beautiful arterial spray pattern (a neat cloud effect) from a 100 meter head kill shot (with enemy fire) surrounding me. I crouched down and timed it, after observing his habits, so that I popped up for 1 second, just as the enemy sniper (on roof) stood up!

307 meter kill shot! OH YEAH!

Here I was playing Sniper Elite and got 3 head shot kills in a row in 5 seconds! All shot in the right eye!

Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)

Manos: The Film of Crap

This was by far the worst movie I haver ever watched. Conservatively I've seen at least 20,000 movies so this is no small feat for 'Manos'! The acting was so atrocious any second-rate high school production could put this film's ensemble cast to shame. I've seen more genuine emotion and expression at a church seniors BINGO game.

The plot is flimsy, pedestrian and without any depth. It does not challenge or even interest me in any way whatsoever. This is one of the few non-linear films I've seen that was unintentionally so. You could mix the scenes up and would get the same end product which still stank. Probably the worst film editing I've seen. No real thought or skill is apparent in the process.

This film's cinematography is abhorrent. No planning went into the shots, the lighting was inept; some indoor scenes lit very dark and then a few moments later the room is blazing with over exposure.

The special effects were neither special nor effective! The director had no clue what he was doing. Actors staring blankly at each other for 2 minutes takes real genius to produce :)

There are some very awful movies that have been made yet usually one can find some redeeming quality in the film. 'Manos' has no such quality! The seminal moment of action in the film when the Master's zombie beauties fight amongst themselves was devoid of any sincerity or emotional impact. They might as well have been arguing over which hair spray worked best!

This movie felt like an eternity and were it not for the humor interjected by MST3K I would have turned it off in the first few minutes. I urge you to not watch this film. Please let it die.
'Manos: The Hands of Fate' will be the gold standard by which I judge future film atrocities.

Carne trémula (1997)

I am wondering about how this film portrayed fidelity, or specifically the lack thereof! It gives the impression women in Spain will casually cheat on their husband if they feel like it. Elena did not seem to care how much it would hurt her husband and she tells him of her infidelity in a detached manner. Is this a Spanish thing? A European thing? I also noticed in several French films the French women are portrayed as hopping from bed to bed without much care or regret for the men in their lives as long as they satisfy their base carnal lusts. This is sad if true and portrays them as very shallow women. I think this is also a big problem in America. Since sex is viewed now by many as just another recreational sport. Does anyone know of modern films from Spain which portray a higher level of fidelity?

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

 This film was a good thriller and morality play until the ending ruined it! A shame since it had a lot going for it, albeit Jamie Fox's acting was not very good (he has to be the most overrated A list actor in Hollywood!). However, the ending was so idiotic and contrived it almost ruined the movie for me. Fox went against his own principles and the lofty law to "win" (don't want to spoil it) and thus affirmed everything that Butler's character believed! Ridiculous and irresponsible. They tore down the entire psychology of the movie up to that point and all for what? I loathe director's who think they are being oh so clever with novel 'twist' endings. It just muddies their artistic integrity and the story's continuity.

Bear (2010)

I'm surprised it is averaging a rating of 4 stars on IMDB! For an ostensible thriller there was little genuine suspense or even horror. The acting was plodding and lacked any real depth or nuance. Character development was kept a bare minimum. A pair of brothers and their significant others are in a car on a trip to some steak house to celebrate someone's birthday (I had to fast forward a bit due to the extreme boredom), they go off the main roads for a short-cut, get a flat tire, the arrogant older brother shoots a young bear like 12 times with what appears to be a 9mm handgun, the mother (or father?) bear is very upset and seeks revenge. That's as far as the plot was developed. Nothing much here. At one point as they've crawled to the end of this metal pipe if you look at the left hand corner you can actually see production people shooting the film! This movie tried to do for bears what "Cujo" did for dogs and fell very flat.

A shameless culture

It was not that long ago that for a child to be born out of wedlock was a deeply shameful thing. That is no longer the case. Now as sexual immorality is rampant we see many children born as bastards out of wedlock. Culturally there is no longer any stigma or shame associated with these births. Even many Christians don't consider it to be a big deal. As a result we have millions of children raised in homes with no father present. This site lists some of the problems associated with fatherless homes. As this article says, "Children of unmarried mothers of any race are more likely to perform poorly in school, go to prison, use drugs, be poor as adults, and have their own children out of wedlock."

The black and hispanic communities have the highest rates of children born out of wedlock. A whopping 72% for blacks and 53% of hispanics. The rate for whites is 29%, but in 1965 the rate for whites was only 3%! So in just a few generations we have seen a dramatic increase in these types of births.

Although the welfare state provides an incentive for women to stay single and have children out of wedlock, the root cause of this problem is not economic, it is not racism or poverty. The real issue is morality. We live in a nation that has in numerous ways turned its back on God. As I said sexual immorality is now epidemic. Even many Christians fornicate. According to the Guttmacher Institute a staggering 61% of 18-year-olds and 71% of 19-year-olds report having had sex. Yet we know that most people do not marry in the US until there mid 20s. So that means that the vast majority of our youth are fornicators. But it's even worse than that. Because according to the Pew forum 78.4% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. So from this we know that the vast majority of Christian youth in America are fornicators! If people were practicing abstinence before marriage and fidelity within marriage we would not see this epidemic of children born out of wedlock, we would not see the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases and we would not see so much abortion.

My theological beliefs

Christ Crucified by Diego Velázquez, 1632

Theology = Covenantal Baptist
Denomination = Baptist, Reformed
Theology Proper, Nature of God = Trinitarian
God's Will = Decretive
Preceptive Christology = Hypostatic Union
Pneumatology = Monergism
Soteriology = Sovereign Grace Alone
Lords Supper = Celebration of God's Grace
Lapsarian = Undecided, think that we can't really know God's mind on this
Hamartiology = Original Sin
Anthropology = Total, Radical Depravity
Ecclesiastic Authority = Sola Scriptura
Baptism = Credo-baptist
Cosmology = Biblical Creationist
Eschatology = Premillennial
Worship = Normative Principal
On the Will = Soft Determinist

Five Point Calvinist: TULIP - Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, Perseverance of the Saints.

I affirm the 5 Solas: Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, Sola Scriptura, Soli Deo Gloria.

Calvary by Josse Lieferinxe, circa 1500-1505

 I believe every word of the 66 books of Holy Scripture to be divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts, infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. I believe that there is no other name under heaven by which sinners can be saved but that of the Lord Jesus Christ; and that Salvation is of the Lord.

My struggle

my thoughts race
at the speed of light
disjointed fragments whiz by

weighed down
in a heavy abyss
lethargy and fatigue reign

a heavy malaise
washes over me
i feel numb

hallucinations torment me
reality is an illusion
an untrusted mind

dissociation comes
i am drowning
in a sea of dreams

an unknown sadness
profound and unending
i ask why

anxiety comes
paralyzing me
with fear and dread

delusions rule
who can discern
the truth of things

but there is hope
in Christ
i finally have peace

(c) 2014 Zachary Uram

Four Blood Moons

Pastor John Hagee now has this wacky Four Blood Moons theory he's pushing, and gullible Christians are gobbling it up! He is founder of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. It's a megachurch. Hagee was on Fox News and Glenn Beck talking about his new book about it. In this book Hagee asserts that based on certain historical events and the timing of the Blood Moons that major prophetic events will be happening with the state of Israel in 2014 and 2015 when the next Blood Moons occur. Hagee's analysis is neither scientific nor proper Biblical exegesis.

He is using a bizarre hermeneutic for interpreting Scripture, that much is certain. Oh there is such a lack of discernment in the Church. I recall a few years ago when another wildly popular yet dubious theory was being popularized, the so-called Bible Codes. So many Christians fell victim to that and we are seeing the same thing happen again here. Sadly Hagee's alarmist Blood Moons book is very highly rated on amazon (4.5 out of 5 possible stars). Why do so many people fall for this nonsense?
 

Hagee is a Christian Zionist and he is, sadly, no stranger to controversy. In his book, "In Defense of Israel", Hagee asserted that Christ did not come as the Jewish Messiah. He says that since Christ did not come as the Messiah that the Jews are not to be expected to accept him as such so they are without blame for rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. This is pure heresy. He also advocates not

proselytizing the Jews. Hagee believes in a heretical theology called Duel Covenantalism or Duel Covenant  theology which basically is an extremist Zionist approach to the Bible. According to this theology Jews aren't even obligated to believe on Christ as Savior in order to be forgiven of their sins. One of my friends flipped through Hagee's Blood Moons book at his local book shop and he said that the book says that Christians are spiritually obligated to give money to Israel! This is outrageous and totally wrong.

If you want to learn precisely what Hagee is teaching about the Four Blood Moons and don't want to buy his book (why make him richer) then you can watch this sermon by Hagee:

Pants on the ground

I am disgusted by the current fashion trend among youth to wear their pants hanging off the bottom of their ass with their underwear exposed. Little do these morons know, but this practice originated in prison culture. When someone was available for gay sex they would wear their pants that way. This is literally the dumbest fashion trend I've ever seen!

As the graphic illustrates some police departments are now enforcing the law against these idiots.

A large factor in the spread of this trend was depraved rap culture. These fools saw rappers dressing that way and decided to mindlessly imitate them.

Here is an apropos song by Larry Platt entitled "Pants On The Ground".

Tattoos

I could not date a girl who had tattoos. I find tattoos to be wholly repugnant and utterly disgusting. It ruins their body. Also there are Biblical reasons why they are not wise.

Scripture says:
Leviticus 19:28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.

Further our bodies, as Christians, are temples of the Holy Spirit so we should not defile or deface our bodies.

Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

I noticed that girls used to get a small discreet tattoo, but now the trend is to either get many smaller tattoos or to get a huge garish one. It's really unattractive. And girls should realize that tattoos are permanent unless one has very painful and very expensive laser surgery to remove them.

Winter Morn

I step out
Into a white landscape
The earth blanketed
By a frosty embrace
In the morning light
New fallen snow glimmers
Dazzling like diamonds
I breathe in cold air,
It stings my lungs
I feel alive and vital
Delicate snowflakes fall
Beautiful architecture
Wonderfully made by God
Such frozen symmetry
The snow is crisp
As I slowly walk
It crunches under foot
The streetlight shines
Snow shimmers beneath
The yellow light
May our faith
Be pure as snow
May our peace
Be full
As it is this morn

(c) 2014 Zachary Uram

Just say no to marijuana!

John Piper is absolutely correct! Marijuana is totally wicked and it is illegal. It alters the mind and is extremely dangerous. Also it has been proven that marijuana is a gateway drug which leads to other types of drug abuse. And it impairs cognition and short term memory. Marijuana puts your brain into what is in effect a drunken state which is clearly sinful. I am so sick of these hippy Christians saying we should legalize marijuana. Also long term marijuana use can result in psychosis.  This study shows that daily marijuana use can lead to an earlier onset of psychotic disorders. Another study showed that regular use of marijuana during adolescence could cause permanent brain damage! Further, marijuana can actually kill you. A woman in Britain recently died from it. Also, marijuana deposits four times more tar in the lungs than tobacco. If you are parents please talk with your kids and warn them about the dangers of marijuana. If you are a pastor please let your congregation know about this important topic. There are nearly 12 million regular abusers of marijuana in the US alone!

False teachers

  These wolves preying on the Body of Christ truly disgust and infuriate me! These wicked false teachers live lavish millionaire lifestyles off the backs of poor people hoping for healing or financial prosperity. So much greed! They have their riches now, but when they die they will surely face the fires of Hell! 

 These false teachers follow the Word of Faith movement and push what is called the prosperity gospel. It is a false gospel of greed and materialism. Word of Faith adherents believe if you believe in something you can speak it into existence such as a new car or a fancy home. It is nonsense and totally unScriptural. 

Christians need to stop watching them on TV, stop supporting their "ministry" and have nothing to do with them. Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Paula White, and all the rest of them make me absolutely sick!

 Here are some verses of Scripture to consider:

 Romans 16:17-18 ESV
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

1 John 4:1 ESV
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Matthew 7:15-20 ESV
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

2 John 1:10-11 ESV
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

John 7:24 ESV
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

2 Peter 2:1-22 ESV
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Colossians 2:8 ESV
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Galatians 1:6-9 ESV
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ESV
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

1 Timothy 5:20 ESV
As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV
But test everything; hold fast what is good.

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV
Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Matthew 24:24 ESV
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.