Pinball Wizardry - A Dying Barroom Sport...

When I was a teenager, I spent hours dropping quarters into these technological marvels.  They got replaced by computers (another one of my deep interests at the time).  Funny how you can love two things that are at odds with each other!  This article talks about the last pinball machine company in the world.

US
For a Pinball Survivor, the Game Isn’t Over
By MONICA DAVEY
Published: April 25, 2008
A range of companies once mass produced pinball machines, especially in the Chicago area. Now there is only Stern Pinball Inc. in Melrose Park, Ill.

A few quotes from the owner,

"The thing that’s killing pinball,” Mr. Arnold added, “is not that people don’t like it. It’s that there’s nowhere to play it.”

"Corner shops, pubs, arcades and bowling alleys stopped stocking pinball machines. A younger audience turned to video games. Men of a certain age, said [Pinball Hall of Fame operator Tim Arnold], who is 52, became the reliable audience. ("Chicks," he announced, "don't get it.")

I resemble that remark!

People used to go out and do things...  now they stay home in front of the internet.

Great Article: Good Question!

Read "Your Sins are Forgiven." at the New Reformation Press Blog, watch the video.

Here's My comment.

"Sometimes its easier to feel guilty than forgiven." A sad commentary to a man who is asking for forgiveness.  The woman doesn't give anything except more guilt.

The blog asks the question how would you council the person.  I might begin by telling the story of a man who was wrongly accused, wrongly convicted, wrongly executed.  Yet, his words were, "Father, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing." If Jesus can forgive those who killed him he can and does forgive this man too.  He says he wants someone to look him in the eye and give him answers.  God's Word is just that, concrete, real, tangible.  Real answers to the real question, is atonement possible? Here's a couple of gems:

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:5-9 ESV)

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:19-23 ESV)

Baptism Saves! by Steve Newell @ Extreme Theology

Steve Newell has a nice description of Christian Baptism on one of my favorite blogs, Extreme Theology. It's simple, straight forward, and worth reading.
Nice job Steve.
Read the article Baptism Saves.
Pastor Watt.