Moosejaw Musings

Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses...

2010-01-25T22:49:00.000-05:00

Moses was God's chosen deliverer for His people. Yet in Exodus God sought to kill him for not circumcising his son -- and when Moses complains about his lack of communication ability God's anger is stirred up against him.

It is amazing that we often think that we can brazenly ignore God's commands and follow our own path without any repercussions. I am trying to understand the necessity of repentance in the life of the believer. Repentance goes beyond confession (I agree that what I did is wrong) to reorienting one's mind to not do the wrong again (or at least more infrequently).

Just throwing some thoughts at my blog...don't look for profundity in this one...just typing out loud I guess.

Deep Church: a recommended book

2010-01-05T19:30:00.001-05:00

I was able to download Jim Belcher’s book: Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional free from Christianaudio.com recently. [Sorry, but the “free” part was only for November.] You can download the Introduction if you would like.
I really enjoyed listening to the book – it was read in a conversational style.
You can review the book's website here: http://www.thedeepchurch.com
I found the book to be very helpful in presenting it’s comparison and critique of both the Traditional and Emergent perspectives. I guess I’ll throw in the same disclaimer every other reviewer gives: “I did not agree with all of Jim’s conclusions” – there, that’s done. I did agree with a lot of what he presented as his “third way”.
The questions the Emergent folks are asking sound real similar to the questions my generation was asking in the 80’s. I think some churches have answered most of those questions properly without identifying themselves as non-traditional or non-emergent.
There are several reviews listed on the Deep Church site – written by those who are experienced in writing reviews. A couple I will highlight are:
Adrian Warnock
and
Kevin DeYoung

I do recommend this book to all in church leadership. It will help you think more clearly about your ministry – and may even change your mind.

Double coverage

2010-01-04T10:21:00.001-05:00

I posted a link on FB - Stand to Reason posts one on their blog

Brit Hume's Witness

This morning on Fox News Sunday during the 2010 predictions, Brit Hume appealed to Tiger Woods to find redemption and forgiveness in Christianity, pointing out that Buddhism doesn't offer what Woods needs to recover as a human being. In a very brief statement, Brit presents the issue as one of objective truth versus false religion, and gets right to the heart of the matter of alienation with others and God and our need for forgiveness and reconciliation. He doesn't present Christianity as a placebo, faith makes us feel better. He offers what Woods needs, what we all need: redemption.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
I appreciate Brit Hume's open affirmation of Christianity and it's message of redemption in Christ. I believe He glorified Christ in his testimony. Let us all be bold in speaking for Christ [and living it out] today.

The Holidays are over, yet...

2010-01-03T21:52:00.000-05:00

Most of us are back to work or back to school tomorrow. The holidays are over. However, Romans 14:5-6 tells us that we can make all days holy - set apart - to God if we choose to do so.
Therefore, we can, maybe should, look for means to set tomorrow apart to God is some special way. Any suggestions on how to accomplish this?

We are in a decade - that was fun - that wasn't my point

2010-01-02T23:13:00.001-05:00

There was some discussion exchanged on Facebook regarding my post yesterday (click here) - and yes, it was fun to have comments exchanged.

The bigger topic was What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

I think another thing I would like to do is work on being deliberately conscious of His presence. More than just a nod of the head or tip of a hat to Him.

It is great to learn to think theologically and to construct your belief system. However, actively focusing one’s mind away from one’s self to the awesome magnificence of God Himself is to be the ultimate sustenance of our existence. Yet, He has given us the freedom in our progress in sanctification – to ignore the One who has given us our purpose for being.

Any suggestions? Prayers will be appreciated.

2010 - NOT a new decade - but a new opportunity

2010-01-01T23:31:00.000-05:00

You may have heard this called the beginning of a new decade - well, it isn't. The new decade begins with 2011. No big deal. Just thought I would point it out.
It is the beginning of a new year, however, and many folks like to use this point in time to ponder life in general and the direction of their own lives in particular.
If you like pondering and want a little guidance you can check out this article Don Whitney wrote a few years back titled: Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year...

His first question is:

What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

My choice would be to be more consistently involved in reading and listening to His Word. So I am adopting a Read Through the Bible program.
If you are interested in do this - you can find some real good help HERE.
You can have the text of the bible readings sent to your email, iphone, blog reader, etc. You can even print out a hard copy to use.
Why not try it this year.

Quote to consider

2009-09-08T09:52:00.001-05:00

Short Response to so-called 4-Point Calvinists

This is a quick response I wrote to someone who claimed to be a four-pointer:
A 4-point calvinist is actuallly an impossible suppostion. Consider, if you affirm the doctrine of irresistible grace (as all 4-pointers claim to do), then you already believe in limited atonement, because irresistible grace comes from Christ and Christ alone, and this effectual grace is granted to the elect only. In other words, Christ died for the elect in a way (a redemptive way to procure irresistible grace) which he did not for the non-elect. Irresistible grace is not some generic grace to be had apart from Christ, for all redemptive blessings flow from Christ, including that one. For Jesus purchased with his blood, men from every tribe, nation, language (Rev 5:9). The doctrines of grace are, therefore, Christocentric, with Christ always at the top of the chiasm, making all other graces effectual and meaningful. In other words, to reject the "L" is to remove Christ from the equation and make the doctrines of grace into a theological abstraction. So ultimately 4-point Calvinism is no Calvinism at all for Christ is the center of all true Calvinism. More specifically 4-point Calvinism is simply being inconsistent with what they already know: Irresistible grace is not Christless.
Solus Christus
John
Posted by John on September 4, 2009 03:11 PM

Stolen from Justin Taylor who borrowed it from Mark Talbot

2009-08-28T07:05:00.001-05:00

The Difference between Teachability and Subservience

Mortimer Adler, How to Read a Book (p. 140):

Teachability is often confused with subservience. A person is wrongly thought to be teachable if he is passive and pliable. On the contrary, teachability is an extremely active virtue. No one is really teachable who does not freely exercise his power of independent judgment. He can be trained, perhaps, but not taught. The most teachable reader is, therefore, the most critical. He is the reader who finally responds to a book by the greatest effort to make up his own mind on the matters the author has discussed.

Forget "Big Brother" - You're neighbor might be watching you!

2009-08-10T16:15:00.000-05:00

That is directly from the White House blog site. I didn't doctor the address or the content.

Somebody should tag this blog post and send it to flag@whitehouse.gov. Although, technically, this isn't a rumor.

Imagine if George Bush (either of them) had asked for citizens to inform upon websites/blogs/emails that opposed their position on the war in Iraq. There would have be a media outcry.

Homeland Security may have tapped phones - Pres. Obama wants YOU to effectively "tap" your web and email.

HT: DJP at Biblical Christianity

30 Years

2009-08-01T07:30:00.003-05:00

I am going to my 30-Year John Glenn High School (Bay City, MI) reunion today. I haven't been to any previous reunions. Facebook has reacquainted me with some of my associates of way-back-when and I thought it would be interesting and fun to attend this year.
I downloaded pages from my graduating class's yearbook - I recognize names and faces (some more dimly than others) - but realize I haven't thought of many of these folks at all for 30 years.
I was kind of introverted in HS. I didn't go to ball games, extra curricular activities. I went to school, went to work, went to church.
I did get asked to pray at our graduation ceremony - imagine that, public prayer in school. One of the last things my classmates would recall of me, if they remember at all, is that during the prayer I asked that God would help them to find their true fulfillment in Jesus Christ. I don't remember the exact words - but I know the gist of that was included. God did specifically answer that prayer (I found out 29 years later) by redeeming my HS buddy. In his words, "God plucked the heart of stone from my chest and replaced it with a heart of flesh." I am excited to see if He performed that work of Grace in the lives of others.
Today will be great.

"...there are more great books out there..."

2009-06-18T08:02:00.001-05:00

"If you don’t enjoy a book, stop reading and move on to something else–no matter how famous it is. Life is too short and there are too many books to spend time reading things you don’t like. I spent way to many hours trying to force myself to read The Sound and the Fury before I realized that I just wasn’t going to enjoy it. Give each book a fair chance, but keep in mind that there are more great books out there than you will ever have time to read, so don’t get stuck on one that you just don’t enjoy." from 11 Steps Toward Developing a Superior Mind

I did tough it through Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand - because a friend persevered through it. It was hard to "read" [50+ hours as an audio book] - but it was worth it.

You should add this site to your blog reader

2009-06-02T11:14:00.001-05:00

Another reason to like Randy Alcorn:

Certainly my heart goes out to Tiller's family. Regardless of the evil
he committed, I’m sure they loved him. I know nothing about his killer
or his beliefs, but if he was motivated by revenge, he ignored God's
warning, "Do not take revenge . . . Vengeance is Mine; I will repay" (Rom. 12:19).

I
don't hate the abortionists I know. I pity them and pray for them. But
that doesn't change the ugliness of what they do. President Obama said
in response to the murder, "However profound our differences as
Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be
resolved by heinous acts of violence." But we dare not forget the heinous acts of violence being committed daily in every abortion clinic in the nation.

Read the entire post here: Some Thoughts on the Killing of Abortionist George Tiller

Distributing Stones

2009-06-02T10:35:00.001-05:00

When sharing any information there is always the risk that you'll be misunderstood. It is a risk worth taking. Hopefully your sharing will make someone seek to clarify through further questions and research on their part [that is always a goal of mine]. Greg Koukl of STR.org refers to this as putting "a stone in their shoe."

Randy Alcorn encourages me to be clear - but not seek to qualify every statement I make.

Question by CJ Mahaney to Randy Alcorn:
What single piece of counsel (or constructive criticism) has most improved your preaching?

“It is impossible to make a balanced statement.”

You can spend all day qualifying what you’re saying and removing the punch from it. Jesus made many statements that have to be clarified by others (e.g. plucking out your eye and cutting off your hand, and hating your family). But it is a mistake to strip such statements of their power by immediately modifying them and saying what they don’t mean instead of what they do. I think we are free to make prophetic statements without always qualifying them.

See the full post here: Meet Randy Alcorn

Piper on President Obama's support for abortion

2009-05-13T11:18:00.002-05:00

No, Mr. President. Killing Is Killing No Matter What We Call It.

May 13, 2009 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary

It's a magnificent thing: The only newly-originating life in the
universe that comes in the image of God is Man. The only
newly-originating life in the universe that lasts forever is Man.

This is an awesome thing.

And, as everyone knows, that reverence is not shared by our new President, over whom we have rejoiced.

He is trapped and blind in a culture of deceit. On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, he released this statement,

We are reminded that this decision not only protects
women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader
principle: that government should not intrude on our most private
family matters.

To which I say:

No, Mr. President, you are not protecting women; you are authorizing the destruction of 500,000 little women every year.
No,
Mr. President, you are not protecting reproductive freedom; you are
authorizing the destruction of freedom for one million little human
beings every year.
No, Mr. President, killing our children
is killing our children no matter how many times you call it a private
family matter. You may say it is a private family matter over and over
and over, and still they are dead. And we killed them. And you, would
have it remain legal.

Mr. President, some of us wept for joy at your inauguration. And we pledge that we will pray for you.

We have hope in our sovereign God.

(From the sermon: "The Baby in My Arms Leaped for Joy.")

Patriot Humor from Patriotpost.us

2009-04-21T15:41:00.000-05:00

Click here for the whole article

What pirates can expect

Prayer for the Future

2009-03-18T12:50:00.001-05:00

"So maybe we should pray that we should love those who might persecute us in the future."

This sentence struck a chord with me - it reminded me of how I tried to raise my children and instruct the Jr. Highers I work with - that we should plan ahead of time to respond to difficult situations in a Christ-like manner. That we should discipline our thinking and behavior to respond, as best as possible, instinctively in spiritual matters as well as security and relational matters.

For instance - if I see a runaway car careening toward my kids - and I can't physically reach them in time to spare their suffering - when I yell for them to jump out of the way - I don't want them pondering the options of obedience - or the comfort of their current situation - I want them to jump - immediately.

Spiritually - I also want to save them from soul wrenching carnage. The emphasis I've made on daily Bible reading - time in prayer - fellowship with other believers in church - to think theologically and biblically in a Christ-like manner - was to help them respond quickly in a God honoring fashion to the situations that His providence places them in.

So, what are preemptive prayers that we could/should pray? Any suggestions?

A couple of warmer-uppers:

"God, you know I'll probably hear some jokes at the office today - that my baser nature would find funny - but should instead bring embarrassment or discomfort. Help me to not to join in "unwholesome" speech. Help me not to retreat. Help me start honorable conversations."

"God, I want to witness to my co-worker - but sometimes I am afraid to speak of you - Forgive me - and help me be bolder."

I imagine many in ministry can relate to this...

2009-02-17T12:48:00.000-05:00

A striking statement from Spurgeon's autobiography:

'I once learnt something in a way one does not often get a lesson. I felt at that time very weary, and very sad, and very heavy at heart; and I began to doubt in my own mind whether I really enjoyed the things which I preached to others. It seemed to be a dreadful thing for me to be only a waiter, and not a guest, at the gospel feast. I went to a certain country town, and on the Sabbath day entered a Methodist Chapel. The man who conducted the service was an engineer; he read the Scriptures, and prayed, and preached. The tears flowed freely from my eyes; I was moved to the deepest emotion by every sentence of the sermon, and I felt all my difficulty removed, for the gospel, I saw, was very dear to me, and had wonderful effect upon my own heart. I went to the preacher, and said, "I thank you very much for that sermon." He asked me who I was, and when I told him, he looked as red as possible, and he said, "Why, it was one of your sermons that I preached this morning!" "Yes," I said, "I know it was; but that was the very message that I wanted to hear, because I then saw that I did enjoy the very Word I myself preached." It was happily so arranged in the good providence of God. Had it been his own sermon, it would not have answered the purpose nearly so well as when it turned out to be one of mine.'

HT: DJP

Obama's Appointments are Ominous

2009-02-14T20:04:00.001-05:00

From Al Mohler:

The pornography industry has a big stake in defending itself against legal challenges and restrictive laws, and it has been stunningly successful in doing so. One of the leading legal defenders of pornography has been David Ogden, a lawyer who can only be described as a First Amendment extremist, who has even argued against laws against child pornography.

President Barack Obama has nominated David Ogden as Deputy Attorney General of the United States. This nomination is both ominous and dangerous. Given David Ogden's high visibility in defense of pornography, this nomination sends a clear and unmistakable message. The pornography business will have a friend in high office in the Department of Justice.

Rick Warren's Inauguraton Prayer

2009-01-20T11:55:00.001-05:00

Rick Warren is praying...starts well...

cheers in the middle of a prayer

"justice for all" [even the unborn, President Obama]

"respect they deserve" [even the unborn, President Obama]

"common good of all" [even the unborn, President Obama]

leads in the Model prayer

A well done prayer - but a missed opportunity to speak prophetically.

Phil Johnson - why he would not pray at Obama's inauguration

2009-01-20T10:55:00.000-05:00

... His passion for being "the most inclusive" is the sole reason he has involved both Rick Warren and Bishop Vicki Gene Robinson-not because he agrees or disagrees with either one of them. (Obama is clearly his own god.)

The central message he intends to give through his inaugural ceremony, then, is that truth doesn't really matter. And I would not want to help him send that message, especially in the context of a prayer offered to God....

Emphasis mine

Read his entire response here. HT Dan Phillips

Praying for President Obama

2009-01-20T10:36:00.001-05:00

Dr. Albert Mohler shares his prayer for President Obama here. It is worth reading.

Two important paragraphs:

Father, we pray that you will change this president's heart and mind on issues of urgent concern. We are so thankful for his gifts and talents, for his intellect and power of influence. Father, bend his heart to see the dignity and sanctity of every single human life, from the moment of conception until natural death. Father, lead him to see abortion, not as a matter of misconstrued rights, but as a murderous violation of the right to life. May he come to see every aborted life as a violation of human dignity and every abortion as an abhorrent blight upon this nation's moral witness. May he pledge himself to protect every human life at every stage of development. He has declared himself as an energetic defender of abortion rights, and we fear that his election will lead directly to the deaths of countless unborn human beings. Protect us from this unspeakable evil, we pray. Most urgently, we pray that you will bring the reign of abortion to an end, even as you are the defender of the defenseless.

Father, may this new president see that human dignity is undermined when human embryos are destroyed in the name of medical progress, and may he see marriage as an institution that is vital to the very survival of civilization. May he protect all that is right and good. Father, change his heart where it must be changed, and give him resolve where his heart is right before you.

One important sentence:

May we learn anew how to confront without demonizing, and to oppose without abandoning hope.

Emphasis mine.

Between Two Worlds: Eric Redmond: \"Living Soli Deo Gloria Under Obama\"

2008-11-05T12:48:00.001-05:00

Between Two Worlds: Eric Redmond: "Living Soli Deo Gloria Under Obama"

Posted using ShareThis

Read the full Article

2008-11-05T07:37:00.001-05:00

America Has Chosen a President

...There must be absolutely no denial of the legitimacy of
President-Elect Obama's election and no failure to accord this new
President the respect and honor due to anyone elected to that high
office. Failure in this responsibility is disobedience to a clear
biblical command.

...we must commit ourselves to pray for this new
President, for his wife and family, for his administration, and for the
nation...

We must pray that God would change President-Elect Obama's mind and
heart on issues of our crucial concern. May God change his heart
and open his eyes to see abortion as the murder of the innocent unborn,
to see marriage as an institution to be defended, and to see a host of
issues in a new light. We must pray this from this day until the
day he leaves office. God is sovereign, after all.

Quoting Dr. Al Mohler to express how I feel

2008-11-05T07:23:00.002-05:00

Given the scale of the Democratic victory, the political landscape will be completely reshaped. The fight for the dignity and sanctity of unborn human beings has been set back by a great loss, and by the election of a President who has announced his intention to sign the Freedom of Choice Act into law. The struggle to protect marriage against its destruction by redefinition is now complicated by the election of a President who has declared his aim to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. On issue after issue, we face a longer, harder, and more protracted struggle than ever before.

Still, we must press on as advocates for the unborn, for the elderly, for the infirm, and for the vulnerable. We must redouble our efforts to defend marriage and the integrity of the family. We must be vigilant to protect religious liberty and the freedom of the
pulpit. We face awesome battles ahead.

A Prayer for the Election

2008-11-03T10:17:00.001-05:00

A Prayer for the Election

from Desiring God Blog

(Author: John Piper)

Father in heaven, as we approach this election on Tuesday, I pray

1) that your people will vote,

2) and that they will vote with a sense of thankfulness for a democratic system that at least partially holds in check the folly and evil in all our hearts so that power which corrupts so readily is not given to one group or person too easily;

3) that we would know and live the meaning of

being in the world, but not of it,
doing politics as though not doing them,
being on the earth, yet having our lives hidden with Christ in God,
rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God's;

4) that we would discern what truths and values should advance by being made law and which should advance only by the leavening of honest influence;

5) that your people would see what love and justice and far-seeing wisdom demand in regard to the issues of education, business and industry, health care, marriage and family, abortion, welfare, energy, government and taxes, military, terrorism, international relations, and every challenge that we will face in the years to come;

6) and above all, that we will treasure Jesus Christ, and tell everyone of his sovereignty and supremacy over all nations, and that long after America is a footnote to the future world, he will reign with his people from every tribe and tongue and nation.

Keep us faithful to Christ's all important Word, and may we turn to it every day for light in these dark times.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Bar Stool Economics

2008-10-29T11:03:00.003-05:00

I ripped this off from c michael patton - he didn't know the original source, either.
Our Tax System Explained: Bar Stool Economics

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100.

If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.' Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.

But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.

So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'

'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too.

It's unfair that he got ten times more than I got' 'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'

'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

This week’s ‘Braying Jackass’ award

2008-10-24T12:03:00.002-05:00

“Joe sometimes engages in rhetorical flourishes. But I think that his core point was that the next administration is going to be tested regardless of who it is. The next administration is going to be inheriting a whole host of really big problems and so the president is going to be tested and the question is will the next president meet that test by moving America in a new direction by sending a clear signal to the rest of the world that we are no longer about bluster and unilateralism and ideology but we’re about creating partnerships around the world to solve practical problems.” —Barack Obama

From:

A Quote for all Political Parties

2008-10-21T06:37:00.001-05:00

"If you believe your candidate will bring out the best in America, show me that he brings out the best in you." -- Jeffrey Overstreet

That makes a whole lot of sense. I don't mind folks pointing out the philosophical, sociological, moral, etc. differences between the candidates - and I'm not even opposed to strong and passionate debating - but it should be elevated above the level of a grade-school playground brawl.

For those who really want to DIG

2008-10-15T11:09:00.002-05:00

If you want to DIG deeper into the Holy Bible - you will want to check out this site.

New Lumps: Emily Joy Stauffer

2008-09-29T08:50:00.000-05:00

Emily Joy Stauffer
While anticipating the coming joy of my daughter's marriage - I heard of a fellow believer's unimaginable loss.
May God sustain us all by His grace until the day He deems fit to exalt Christ completely in His creation.

Must Listen on Abortion

2008-09-20T23:05:00.000-05:00

John Piper clip relating Abortion to God.

HT: Randy Alcorn

Why Obama and Biden are Bad for America

2008-09-15T10:05:00.001-05:00

“Ultimately, the choice before the American people is the choice between two visions:
on the one hand,
the policies of limited government, economic growth, a strong defense, and a firm foreign policy;
and on the other hand,
policies of tax and spend, economic stagnation, international weakness and accommodation, and always, always, from them,
‘Blame America first.’ ” —Ronald
Reagan

I also believe that if I could see into the future - and Obama/Biden were elected - and the world was at peace, and the economy was strong, and hunger was history, and utopia had come...I would still not vote for Obama/Biden because they would bring such peace and prosperity at the expense of the blood of the unborn. Obama doesn't admit to knowing when life begins -- Biden knows but won't make an issue of the truth. Such moral cowardice is not befitting the executive office. McCain/Palin may not get everything right - they may make some big mistakes - but they support the abolition of abortion (4,000 each day) - and that is enough to garner my vote.

Matt Waymeyer smacks Biden on the forehead!

2008-09-08T14:20:00.001-05:00

Biden on Abortion

In
an interview yesterday on “Meet the Press,” Roman Catholic
Joseph Biden said this about the abortion issue: “I’m
prepared as a matter of faith to accept that life begins at the moment
of conception. But that is my judgment. For me to impose that judgment
on everyone else who is equally and maybe even more devout than I am
seems to me is inappropriate in a pluralistic society.”

Can you imagine someone saying this about slavery in the 19^th
century? “I’m prepared as a matter of faith to accept that
black people are created equal and should have the same rights as
everyone else. But that is my judgment. For me to impose that judgment
on everyone else who is equally and maybe even more devout than I am
seems to me is inappropriate in a pluralistic society.”

Copied without shame

2008-09-08T07:22:00.002-05:00

Slavery in Haiti
from Desiring God Blog
(Author: John Piper)

It is a good thing that people from all ideologies are talking about
the horrors human trafficking. Don't let the "trendiness" of it dampen
your indignation. If a liberal champions a good cause woe to
conservatives who put their head in the sand.

Doug Nichols has been on the cutting edge of caring for street
children since before some of you were born. He is one of my heroes. As
Founder of Action International, Doug draws my attention to child slavery in Haiti. The children are called restavéks (stay-withs).

He writes: "Let me share a few paragraphs from the recent book A Crime So Monstrous, by Benjamin Skinner:

…[Slaves] are everywhere. Assuming that this
is your first trip to Haiti, you won't be able to identify them. But to
a lower-middle-class Haitian, their status is 'written in blood.' Some
are as young as three or four years old. But they'll always be the
small ones, even if they're older. The average fifteen-year-old child
slave is 1.5 inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter than the average free
fifteen-year-old. They may have burns from cooking for their overseer's
family over an open fire; or scars from beatings, sometimes in public,
with the martinet, electrical cables, or wood switches. They wear
faded, outsized castoffs, and walk barefoot, in sandals or, if they are
lucky, oversized shoes...

[Y]ou may see their tiny necks and delicate skulls
straining as they tote five-gallon buckets of water on their heads
while navigating broken glass and shattered roads.

These are the restavéks, the 'stay-withs,' (child slaves) as
they are euphemistically known in Creole. Forced, unpaid, they work
from before dawn until deep night. The violence in their lives is
unyielding. These are the children who won't look into your eyes.

Nationwide the number of restavéks ballooned from
109,000 in 1992 to 300,000, or one in ten Haitian children, in 1998, to
400,000 in 2002."

Fred Thompson on Obamanomics

2008-09-03T10:08:00.001-05:00

clipped from mail.google.com
“Now our opponents tell you not
to worry about their tax increases. They tell you they are not going
to tax your family. No, they’re just going to tax ‘businesses.’ So
unless you buy something from a ‘business,’ like groceries or clothes
or gasoline... or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a small
‘business,’ don’t worry... it’s not going to affect you. They say they
are not going to take any water out of your side of the bucket, just the
‘other’ side of the bucket! That’s their idea of tax reform.” —Fred
Thompson

Don't Miss These

2008-09-03T09:59:00.001-05:00

Be sure to check out "Moose's Chooses" in the right hand column of my blog.

These are links to articles from some of the blogs that I keep an eye on - articles that I think would be beneficial for you to read, too. [That's why I share them.]

Feel free to comment on them to me via e-mail thematthewsclan@gmail.com

Dems on Obama

2008-09-02T06:59:00.001-05:00

They Said It! Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE) On Obama

Former Sen. Kerrey: "John McCain is a known quantity
... You don't look at John and say, 'Who the heck is he?' he's a
veteran, he's a guy who got pretty banged up in Vietnam. He can deal
with crisis. There's some uncertainty about Senator Obama." (Glenn
Thrush, "7 Worrisome Signs For Obama," The Politico, 8/11/08)

2008-08-27T08:25:00.001-05:00

Matthew, Mark Cornerstone Biblical Commentary--Free!
By
Phil Gons
on August 26, 2008 3:00 AM
The Cornerstone Biblical Commentary Series

Last Friday the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (9 Vols.) hit the Pre-Pub page. This relatively new series from Tyndale, under the editorship of Philip W. Comfort, Tremper Longman III (OT), and Grant Osborne (NT), attempts--like the second edition of the New Living Translation it is based on--to be both exegetically accurate and idiomatically powerful.

The CBC gives careful attention to both the words and theological message of the texts of Scripture and strives to be a helpful tool for teachers, pastors, students, and lay people alike.

The contributors to this series--Allen P. Ross, Tremper Longman III, Darrell L. Bock, Harold W. Hoehner, and many others--represent a wide spectrum of theological positions within evangelicalism, reflecting the rich variety that exists in the church.

Worth Taking the time to view

2008-08-27T07:46:00.001-05:00

The importance of defining our terms to eliminate preconceived ideas and cultural nuances.
Warning: Conviction will be imminent. If not, check your heart.

"Have you ever heard the phrase "God has a wonderful plan for your
life"? Do you think it's biblical? Before you answer, consider this --
What would you say if you were able to preach to 1,000 people in Tower
One of the World Trade Center, the day before it collapsed and killed
them? Could you tell them that God had a "wonderful plan" for their
lives, knowing that they would die the very next in such a horrible
way? This episode not only exposes this popular yet unbiblical
presentation, but it shows how it actually limits the Gospel to a
certain segment of the world, and how it has the potential to fill the
Church with false converts. Walk through the answer to this tough
question with Kirk and Ray as they film on location in New York City."

Peggy Noonan shows a high pay grade isn't necessary to answer some questions

2008-08-26T07:17:00.001-05:00

As to the question when human life begins, the answer to which is above Mr. Obama's pay grade, oh, let's go on a little tear. You know why they call it birth control? Because it's meant to stop a birth from happening nine months later. We know when life begins. Everyone who ever bought a pack of condoms knows when life begins.

Now how hard was that?

Go to the link - click on the phone.

2008-08-07T14:25:00.001-05:00

Fundamentalists Await New "THiPhone"

Pensacola, Fl - Pensacola Christian College announced on Thursday that they will soon release the much anticipated "THiPhone."

Worth watching...and pondering

2008-07-28T07:33:00.001-05:00

First Trinity Unity Community Church of the U.S.A. - whew - I think I got that right.

FTUCCUSA

[HT: C. Michael Patton]

Workout Smarts!

2008-07-23T13:05:00.001-05:00

I am recommending that everyone take a look at the above website. [click the picture or click here].

This is related to the article on Interval Training that I posted yesterday.

Don't think that this is an "easy" weight-loss program. It requires effort -- and that's a good thing.

I have been doing 260 lb leg presses at the gym. A 4-minute lower-body routine through Bodybot works my legs more intensely. I do two 4-minute routines in the morning (I thought I would do 3 sets - but, right now, 2 sets tire me out). Currently I alternate between upper and lower body routines - and do abdominal work every day.

Please check it out and let me know what you think.

About coffee

2008-07-23T09:03:00.001-05:00

on Coffee from Spurgeon by spurgeon
Two tidbits I learned today about the burnt beans …

(1) From Claudia Roden’s book Coffee: A Connoisseur’s Companion:

In Italy it was the priests who appealed to Pope Clement VIII to have the use of coffee forbidden among Christians. Satan, they said, had forbidden his followers, the infidel Moslems, the use of wine because it was used in the Holy Communion, and given them instead his “hellish black brew.” It seems the Pope liked the drink, for his reply was: “Why, this Satan’s drink is so delicious that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it. We shall cheat Satan by baptizing it.” Thus coffee was declared a truly Christian beverage by a farsighted Pope. (p. 14)

More here. [HT: Cranach]

(2) J.S. Bach wrote Coffee Cantata (c. 1734) a comic opera about a father concerned over his daughter’s coffee consumption:

Oh! How sweet the coffee tastes,
Lovelier than a thousand kisses,
Mellower than muscatel wine.
Coffee, coffee I must have,
And if someone wants to refresh me,
Ah, let him give me coffee!

Learn more about it here. Read the full text here. Funny stuff.

(3) UPDATE … Dean, a faithful blog reader in NC, recommends sipping java with david m. bailey’s album Coffee With The Angels playing in the background. Check out track 3, Java Junkie. “The Cubans drink it sweet. The Turkish drink it strong. Me? I just drink it all day long.”

Interval Training

2008-07-22T14:21:00.001-05:00

Burn More Calories in Less Time with Interval Exercises
Yahoo Health says the secret to optimizing a short workout and burning more calories in less time lies in interval training.
Study subjects who spent just 20 minutes mixing sprints with jogging lost three times the fat off their legs and butt in 15 weeks, compared to those who jogged steadily for 40 minutes, research from the University of New South Wales in Sydney finds. Intervals may spark fat-mobilizing hormones, and they amp your cardio capacity so your future runs will actually feel easier.

Never give up!

2008-07-22T12:55:00.002-05:00

Hopefully this will give you encouragement to begin or continue witnessing to those in your life who seemed hardened to the Gospel of Christ.
Be sure to read the entire article.

Jul 21, 2008 (17 hours ago)
How On Her Last Day My Grandma Edith Ashton Found Life
from Puritan Fellowship by noreply@blogger.com (Puritan)
by Kevin Williams
...

Then from her hospital bed, she called out to God to save her.

She then asked what happens now?"
I said "Well Jesus will either come and make you better, or He'll come and take you home."

The transformation and peace about her was amazing. She then started pointing to the nurses and telling me, "Tell them! You must tell the nurses about Jesus and how they can have their sins forgiven." This once stubborn lady who had spent the last few years telling me "you shouldn't preach to people Kevin", was now excitedly telling me I must preach to everyone.

Soon it was time to go, and from her bed my Grandma didn't stop waving to me and my children, until we had gone through the door and was out of sight, just like she did from her window when I visited her flat as a child.

Early the next morning at around 1am, my Grandma Edith Ashton went to be with the Lord .

I then found out that throughout the day I went to see her, she was either delirious or not conscious and the only time she was of a sound mind to hear the Gospel was that short time when I went to visit her, and her condition deteriorated soon after I had left.

...

Rom 8:28-30 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

Why I Like John Piper

2008-07-22T10:08:00.001-05:00

I enjoy reading/listening to the works of John Piper. He has a way of capturing the practical applications of the Word of God - and bringing them to my attention. Today, not only has he taught me how to apply the Scriptures - he has given hints on how to read the Scriptures.

Let me know what you think.

When a Psalm Is Not Your Situation
July 22, 2008 | By: John Piper
Because the Psalms are so personal, they often do not represent the mood or the situation we are in when we read them. For example, a couple mornings ago I read Psalm 142. It says,

There is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. (v. 4)

And,

I am brought very low! (v. 6)

I do not share this lament at this time. There are many who care for my soul. And I am not presently very low. I have known times more like this. But it is not true of me now.

So what should we do when we read psalms that do not represent our present experience?

Realize that somewhere in the world there are Christians who right now are in this situation. Pray with them and for them.
Realize that you will be in this situation sooner or later, and build this pattern of prayer into your life as preparation.
Get to know God by the way the godly go to him and what they say to him and about him in such times.
Give thanks for the relative peace and joy you have in this fragile season.

A Great Covenant Celebration

2008-07-21T09:24:00.003-05:00

A pictorial post

2008-07-17T11:15:00.000-05:00

Hungry for Healing

2008-07-15T09:07:00.003-05:00
A friend flew to Florida to "experience" God's working in the Lakeland 'revival'. I kindly let her know I was skeptical. [Since then I have review what it going on - and am convinced that there is false teaching happening.] She said if I would have experienced it - I would know that God is working there. I said I wouldn't - because I don't trust my "experience" to always represent reality - so experiences could be real deceiving. Bottom line - does it match the Scriptures.
Here is a post by Mike Ratliff worth reading - hit the link and read it all.

Signs and Wonders, Heresy, and Love for God
Posted on June 11, 2008 by Mike Ratliff

As I researched Todd Bentley and Bob Jones and the “Lakeland, Florida Revival”
over the last several days it soon became apparent that the supporters of this are completely convinced that there is a legitimate “outpouring” from the Holy Spirit going on. They are vocal. They are adamant. The number one reason that these people become apologists for Todd and this movement, that I have seen, is the sings [sic] and wonders performed on stage supposedly by the Holy Spirit through Todd.They believe that since people are genuinely healed then this is undeniable verification that this is legitimate. I read dozens of comments on various blogs today in which an apologist for Todd would suddenly appear within the discussion proclaiming in a very sincere tone that all of those pointing out Todd’s inconsistencies and lack of Gospel focus and the speaking of heresy are wrong. Why? Because people are healed miraculously through him.
My brethren we are called to ask God for wisdom and look at all ministers and ministries with discernment given to us by Him. Now, does the presence of signs and wonders prove that God is in something? Is it the marker that tells us all to declare that Todd Bentley is indeed a prophet of God? Please read the following article by John Piper in which he addresses this from The Word of God.

A program you will want to check out!

2008-07-11T11:05:00.001-05:00

This is sad...

2008-07-02T07:09:00.001-05:00

clipped from gateworld.net
Don S. Davis: 1942-2008

Monday - June 30, 2008 | by Darren Sumner

With great sadness we must report that veteran actor Don S. Davis passed away on June 29, 2008. He was 65 years old.

Don co-starred on Stargate SG-1 for the show's first seven years, helping to launch the enduring science fiction franchise. Davis played Major General George Hammond, base commander and a father figure to many of the show's characters.

He is also well-known for his portrayal of Major Garland Briggs in Twin Peaks.

Off-screen, Don was beloved by the show's cast and crew. He departed the show in 2003 due to a medical condition that restricted his workload, but returned for several guest appearances on SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis in the following years. Don worked hard to improve his health, and continued to work both on screen and off until his death.

2008-06-09T07:44:00.000-05:00
Moosejaw Musings will be for my family-social-political ponderings. I will be posting my religious-theological-spiritual wanderings at ChrMoosejaw's Meanderings at chrmoosejaw.blogspot.com

A Great Free Calculator for your PC

2008-05-28T07:43:00.003-05:00

The Return of Henry Jones, Jr

2008-05-28T07:34:00.001-05:00

My comment I posted at

"I knew going in that belief would have to be suspended. I rewatched the first 3 before seeing this addition - so when Indy climbs into the fridge - I laughed - and I loved it. When you wrote, "It is perfectly in keeping with the original inspiration for the Indiana Jones series -- George Lucas's childhood enthrallment with movie serials." I realized, that's it - that is what the movie was drawing on from my past. The only thing missing from the experience for me was the pop and popcorn - I didn't want to shell out $13 bucks - but now I wish I had."

Go read Jared's review at: Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Jaded Moviegoers

Read the entire article

2008-05-23T08:53:00.001-05:00

Let me know what you think...

Use the comments.
clipped from www.reclaimingthemind.org
It is important to understand that hell not is filled with people who are crying out for God’s mercy, constantly hoping for a second chance. People are in hell because they have the same disposition toward God that they had while they were walking the earth. They do not suddenly, upon entrance into Hell, change their nature and become sanctified. They still hate God. People are in hell for all eternity, not because they floated a stop sign, but because their fists are still clinched toward God. They are not calling on His mercy. They are not pleading for a second chance. They are in hell for all eternity because that is where they would rather be. It is their nature.

the gratitude campaign

2008-05-15T06:04:00.001-05:00

Check out this website.

Something more pray about

2008-05-12T09:13:00.001-05:00

Thousands Dead After Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake Rocks Central China

Monday, May 12, 2008

CHONGQING,
China — A massive earthquake struck central China on Monday and state
media reported that as many as 5,000 people were killed in a single
county while nearly 900 students were trapped under the rubble of their
school.

The official Xinhua News
Agency said 80 percent of the buildings had collapsed in Beichuan
county in Sichuan province after the 7.8-magnitude quake.

Xinhua
reported that 3,000 to 5,000 people had died in Beichuan, which has a
population of 160,000, raising fears the overall death toll could
increase sharply. Another 10,000 people were believed to be hurt.

The
earthquake sent thousands of people rushing out of buildings and into
the streets hundreds of miles away in Beijing and Shanghai. The temblor
was felt as far away as Pakistan, Vietnam and Thailand.

I wish I had thought of this line...

2008-04-17T07:58:00.001-05:00

"He [Chris Tucker] is the Jar-Jar Binks of action films."

Ouch! I love that line, though, from Scott Nehring of

who says of Rush Hour 3, "I've had more surprises and fun watching the lens changes down at my local optometrist's office."

So...fill in the blank.

____________ is the Jar-Jar Binks of modern preachers.

A pair that don't get it, too

2008-04-16T11:35:00.002-05:00

Bush continues to frustrate me. "Islam is a religion of peace." now this.

clipped from kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com

Just When I Think I've Heard It All . .

From the Religious New Service (Click here: Religion News Service)

President Bush, when asked by EWTN anchor Raymond Arroyo: “When you look into Benedict XVI's eyes, what do you see?”
“God.”
Funny, when I see Benedict XVI, I see a brilliant and formidable theologian (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger), who now presides over a church which officially denies the gospel of justification sola fide.

This man will never get it

2008-04-15T14:23:00.002-05:00

Carter kisses Hamas terrorist

Former president also lays wreath at 'peace fighter' Arafat's gravesite
By Aaron Klein
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
RAMALLAH, West Bank – Former President Jimmy Carter today warmly embraced a top Hamas terrorist and laid a wreath on the gravesite of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whom Carter called a "peace fighter" and a "dear friend," according to Palestinian officials speaking to WND.
Visiting the West Bank city of Ramallah, Carter attended a reception with Nasser Shaer, a senior Hamas leader. The reception was closed to the media, but according to participants and the Hamas leader, Carter hugged Shaer and kissed him on each cheek, the customary greeting for good friends. Many U.S. diplomats refrain from kissing Palestinian officials.

"He gave me a hug. We hugged each other, and it was a warm reception," Shaer told the Associated Press. "Carter asked what he can do to achieve peace between the Palestinians and Israel ... and I told him the possibility for peace is high."

Guess what I will be buying in October?

2008-04-15T10:06:00.001-05:00

I hope so, at least. Lyndsey is getting married on October 4th.
clipped from www.esvstudybible.org

facebook rules!

2008-04-14T20:53:00.001-05:00

I did some searching on facebook the other day -- and got this response last Sunday:
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Gary,

I have been looking for you, on and off, for 28 years! I have felt the burning need over the years to tell you that on October 10th 1980 God plucked the heart of stone from my chest and replaced it with a heart of flesh.

How are you?

In Christ,
David
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
David was my best friend in High School. I haven't talked with him since 1979 [yeah, that is sad!]. I have prayed for him on and off over the years - wondering if he was doing well. Yesterday, as you read, I was given great news.
I am looking forward to trying to catch up with him online - and maybe connecting with him this summer on one of our many trips to the thumb area.

One more week!

2008-04-14T12:03:00.002-05:00

This is where Tonja and I will be next week!! Woo-hoo!!

I can't wait to go!

whimper

2008-04-10T14:30:00.001-05:00

Diagnose Why You're Whining [Mind Hacks]
from Lifehacker by Gina Trapani
Our productivity blogging pal Merlin Mann says that when you find yourself whining about working on a task or project, take it as a signal to stop and figure out why.
Whining is the white smoke in your tailpipe that lets you know you're burning mental oil. It means you're unconsciously devoting cycles to something that you can't, won't, or shouldn't be spending time thinking about.
We've all whined and moaned about that job, relationship, project, and annoying to-do that just sits on our list for weeks pointing and laughing at us. That's when it's time to hit the mechanic instead of, as Merlin says, adding oil to feed the smoke.

Got this today - too funny!

2008-04-10T10:22:00.001-05:00

Hindering Stains

2008-04-10T08:40:00.001-05:00

Paul Martin said this in a recent blog entry at his site:
All of this made me wonder how my life stains the Gospel. Paul urges the early church to seek to “adorn the Gospel” by our good and loving behaviour, but too often I think I am a stained garment.
I was just struck by the idea of my life staining the gospel.
1 - I like a preacher who will use different words to convey his message - he could have said "All of this made me wonder how my life hinders the Gospel" - but it would have not been so effective.
2 - I like that he steps on his own toes, too.

2008-04-08T11:57:00.000-05:00
From Desiring God's Blog - I put it here - because I need to remember it.

5 Tips for Clear Writing and Talking
April 8, 2008 | By: John Piper

C. S. Lewis' advice to children on writing is good advice to pastors on preaching, or anybody on talking.
Always try to use the language so as to make quite clear what you mean and make sure your sentence couldn't mean anything else.

Always prefer the clean direct word to the long, vague one. Don't implement promises, but keep them.

Never use abstract nouns when concrete ones will do. If you mean "More people died" don't say "Mortality rose."

In writing, don't use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the things you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us the thing is "terrible," describe it so that we'll be terrified. Don't say it was "delightful"; make us say "delightful" when we've read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers "Please, will you do my job for me."

Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.

(Originally published in Letters to Children, letter from June 26, 1956. Quoted in Wayne Martindale and Jerry Root in The Quotable Lewis, p. 623.)

From www.Persecution.blog

2008-04-08T08:59:00.001-05:00

A martyr is, he who has become the instrument of God, who has lost his will in the will of God, not lost it but found it, for he has found freedom in submission to God. The martyr no longer desires anything for himself, not even the glory of martyrdom.

-- T.S. ELLIOT—MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL

I love this phrase -- "tin-foil hat theology"

2008-04-08T08:36:00.002-05:00

Fred Butler has some pointed words to as about the fear of some Independent, Fundamental Baptists (IFB's) that are fretting about the resurgence of Calvinistic thinking amongst some of their (hopefully 'former') adherents.

The whole article is here.

The bullet points follow:

Perhaps some of these things are true, but if I may offer my suggestions as to the upsurge of Calvinism among young IFBs:

- The utter nonsense of conspiratorial driven, tin-foil hat theology that shapes the worldview of a lot of these churches.

- The rejection of man-made, draconian holiness codes imposed upon church members so they are forced toil throughout their Christian lives under a burden of chocking legalism.

- The doctrinally devoid, finger-wagging sermons, yelled out by shrill, loud shouting preachers who more than often mangle the meaning of the text during their presentations.

- The buffoonish methods and manipulative gimmicks that are falsely called "evangelical outreach" and "soul-winning" which are merely performed to inflate church numbers rather than convert sinners.

- The mean-spirited, ungracious separatism that is lifted up in the guise of "keeping the church pure."

"New" Evangelism Method

2008-04-04T14:32:00.001-05:00

I wonder if I should recommend this book to our college age Focus Point class.

A dullish day

2008-02-07T23:47:00.001-05:00

This is what I drove through tonight to get home

2008-02-06T22:30:00.000-05:00

More on Free Will

2008-02-06T22:22:00.000-05:00

A different approach

2008-02-05T22:53:00.000-05:00

Paleoevangelical Prodding

2007-11-15T09:04:00.000-05:00
So - if it came down to Popular Republican vs. Hillary Clinton in 2008 - would you / could you vote for PR if they were strong on every point - except they thought that grown men should be free to have sex with little boys? What if he agreed with you on every national issue - but thought that elective elimination of the elderly was acceptable - could you cast your vote for them - just to keep Hillary out of the White House? How then, assuming your answer to the previous questions is "No", could you vote for someone who thinks that it is acceptable for unborn children to be killed and extracted from their mothers womb and disposed of as common biological waste?

Spurred on by the following:
paleoevangelical: "Thursday, November 15, 2007 'Would you vote for a candidate who agrees with you on every issue, except that he's a white supremacist?' Guest host Russell Moore asks this question and others related to Pat Robertson's endorsement of Rudy Giuliani on Monday's Albert Mohler radio program. Moore argues that denying the humanity of and basic human rights to a whole category of human beings ought to be enough to make such an endorsement unthinkable for a Christian. Moore also said, 'I don't even have a candidate yet. And if I did I wouldn't tell you. It just wouldn't be appropriate.' Doesn't it seem ironic that the author of The Kingdom of Christ: The New Evangelical Perspective and director of the Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement would take a stronger stand against political endorsements than some fundamentalists?"

2007-11-14T09:57:00.000-05:00
I just shared a link under Moose's Chooses: Sacrificing Children on a Republican Altar?

It is a must read for thoughtful musers.

I posted this comment to the article:
Abortion was not delegitimized under the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. Neither has it been abolished under the governing of Both Presidents Bush. All of them were the darlings of the Republicans - I voted for all of them.

It is simplistic, probably, for me to say this - but God's plan is not to change the world through political governance - He is changing it through His church. His true church. And He has never called His people to compromise their moral values for the sake of political expediency or incremental progress.

My pastor is currently preaching on the Bema Seat Judgment - and currently is leaning to the "ABC" ideology. Your comment, "having to stand before God to answer for compromising biblical convictions and acting as moral hypocrites by voting for an unprincipled man who will not defend the innocent and care for his own family", is poignant. I will be sharing this article with him.

Thanks, Randy, for providing a biblically based reason for your views.

Fwd: Halloween Potluck

2007-10-30T11:13:00.001-05:00

>>> On 10/30/2007 at 11:14 AM, wrote:

Hi Team,
... of the Registration Call Center is organizing a Halloween Pot Luck for tomorrow. He has invited our area is asking everyone to bring anything they would like to the potluck. He is keeping a Halloween theme so the call center has elected to bring in things reflective of Halloween so they might be orange, black, creepy or scary. They have also challenge the Verification Unit to a cube decorating contest!
He is also encouraging everyone to dress up for Halloween and is encouraging a best costume contest.
Wow, the energy of youth.
...
Please let me know if you are interested in participating so I can give some feedback.
Thanks,
...

How does this invitation comply with the restriction placed upon me earlier?

Gary,

Please be sensitive to your entire audience when selecting your quotes.

The above was sent to me because I included the following quote:

Quote of the Day:

One and God make a majority.

Frederick Douglass (1817-1895)

There seems to be a different standard here. One quote out of a hundred daily quotes sent that mentions God - maybe a quote from Pascal - but I don't think it was overtly religious - and I am requested to be "sensitive."

Here is a celebration that CAN BE offensive to some Christians, Catholics, Pagans, Wiccans, etc [see Halloween: Religious perspectives]- and it is being promoted and encouraged - even emphasizing the most offensive parts of the event - "orange, black, creepy or scary"

I think a good perspective is here or here.

"There's another option open to Christians: limited, non-compromising participation in Halloween. There's nothing inherently evil about candy, costumes, or trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. In fact, all of that can provide a unique gospel opportunity with neighbors. Even handing out candy to neighborhood children--provided you're not stingy--can improve your reputation among the kids. As long as the costumes are innocent and the behavior does not dishonor Christ, trick-or-treating can be used to further gospel interests.

Ultimately, Christian participation in Halloween is a matter of conscience before God. Whatever level of Halloween participation you choose, you must honor God by keeping yourself separate from the world and by showing mercy to those who are perishing. Halloween provides the Christian with the opportunity to accomplish both of those things in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's a message that is holy, set apart from the world; it's a message that is the very mercy of a forgiving God. What better time of the year is there to share such a message than Halloween?" -- from the second article.

The real issue is the lack of consistency. The argument that "the Daily News is a department sanctioned document and therefore..." could be applied to this potluck, too - "the Halloween Potluck is a department sanctioned [even though suggested by an individual] event and therefore..."

Personally, I am not offended by the American Halloween culture in the sense that I am shocked and appalled by it. Really, what more can I expect from a God denying/ignoring culture. Could I set up a "Reformation Day" potluck - celebrating Martin Luther's posting of his 95 Thesis on the church door [the community bulletin board] on October 31st in 1517. Probably not - it would offend the many non-religious, non-Protestant, and even non-Reformed among us.

This is where a generic Fall Festival, Harvest Fair, etc... theme makes it non-confrontational - and provides the needed excuse for a potluck.

Grand Sable Dune at Sunset

2007-10-15T11:41:00.001-05:00

Grand Sable Dune at Sunset
Originally uploaded by John Clement Howe
This photographer is GOOD!

Au Sable Point Lighthouse, 1874

2007-10-15T11:40:00.001-05:00

Au Sable Point Lighthouse, 1874
Originally uploaded by John Clement Howe
the other side

Update: Click on the box - the photo is on the website

AuSable Point Light, 1874

2007-10-15T11:39:00.001-05:00

AuSable Point Light, 1874
Originally uploaded by John Clement Howe
Nice view of this lighthouse

Update: Click on the box - the photo is on the website

<-- Look over there

2007-10-05T08:14:00.000-05:00
Please be sure to keep an eye on Moose's Chooses in the left column. They consist of blog articles others have written that I think you could benefit from - or just get a kick out of.

Thanks!

Haut-fond Prince Lighthouse

2007-09-17T13:17:00.001-05:00

Haut-fond Prince Lighthouse
Originally uploaded by John Clement Howe
Very cool looking lighthouse!

The Winds of September

2007-09-17T13:15:00.001-05:00

The Winds of September
Originally uploaded by John Clement Howe
This was taken a few days ago. I wish I had been there.

Point Betsie Lighthouse, 1858, February 26, 2007

2007-09-17T13:14:00.001-05:00

Point Betsie Lighthouse, 1858, February 26, 2007
Originally uploaded by John Clement Howe
One of the prettiest lighthouses in Michigan. You need to enjoy John Clement Howe's work.

MacArthur Has It Right, Too

2007-09-11T08:20:00.000-05:00
Face Death Confidently

Face Tomorrow Hopefully

Face Today Actively
Right Praying. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and yourminds in Christ Jesus [vv. 6-7].
Right Thinking. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure,whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things [v. 8].
Right Living. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you [v. 9].

What Romans 8:28 Affords to Us

2007-09-11T08:11:00.000-05:00

John Piper puts our minds precisely where they need to be...
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
How to Honor Those Who Died? - Piper, John

The greatest tribute we can pay to those who have perished in the past 9/11’s of the world is to believe that “not a hair of our heads will perish,” even if we are beheaded ; and then to use that utter security to risk our lives in the service of people who suffer and are on the brink of eternal suffering.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37).

This is the certainty that our 9/11 is coming, and that not a hair of our heads will perish.

Those who know they will certainly go through a 9/11 and come out of it in the presence of Christ, should be the freest, most risk-taking, sacrificial lovers in the world. It has been true: “You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one” (Hebrews 10:34). It can be true again.

Gospel Prism - Playing With Barbed Wire

2007-08-10T07:32:00.000-05:00
This should give you pause to think about MANY differents truths.

Gospel Prism - Playing With Barbed Wire: "Playing With Barbed Wire Aug 8th, 2007 by admin My home has many toys, toys that have been discarded a while ago. But one toy that we do not have is barbed wire. Usually, you don’t want kids playing with such things because…well…cuts from sharp wire is never fun any child. But in Africa where toys are non-existent, where food and water and health care are very limited, barbed wire can be ‘fun.’ I took this shot as we were visiting a village called Cork. The poverty in this small village was horrific. These two kids were barefooted in the midst of rubble playing with barbed wire. It was their only toy."

FREE ONLINE SEMINARY COURSE LECTURES

2007-08-03T08:06:00.000-05:00
RTS VIRTUAL EXPANDS GLOBAL IMPACT THROUGH FREE ONLINE SEMINARY COURSE LECTURES
The RTS Virtual Campus is making archival course lectures available for download through Apple iTunesU. Previously, RTSV has offered free downloads from a variety of courses: Hebrews through Revelation, History of Missions, Systematic Theology I, and Christian Apologetics. The lectures may be accessed under “RTS Virtual Courses.” Beginning June 1, 2007, lectures from the entire Master of Arts curriculum will be posted for a worldwide audience. These lectures give those unable to afford to commit to seminary study an opportunity to benefit from world class Christian education.
In addition, RTSV has also added their promotional videos with interviews from RTS faculty, Virtual Campus students, and graduates. The promotional videos may be found under “RTS Virtual Videos.”
General directions to iTunesU: Type http://itunes.rts.edu/ into a web-browser. If the iTunes program is not already installed, select “click to download” under the “Download iTunes Software” heading. Once the software is downloaded, go to itunes.rts.edu and clock on “Click to Launch iTunes” under the “Launch RTS on iTunesU” heading. This will automatically start the iTunes program that will open the RTS page.

Remember to Pray

2007-08-02T12:46:00.001-05:00

God is working in the lives of many people through this accident.
clipped from news.bbc.co.uk

Lilies

2007-07-27T09:03:00.001-05:00

Lilies
Originally uploaded by John Clement Howe
Thought this was beautiful.

Wanted to see how flickr posts to my Blog, too.

I think I know some who are

2007-06-20T09:27:00.001-05:00

clipped from www.desiringgod.org
Are You Called to Papua New Guinea?

On Saturday we received the following prayer request:

Firstly, I thank God for the Desiring God ministry. I come from Papua New Guinea. My prayer and request for prayer is God give us true servants of the gospel. We (the country) need well-educated men who hear the call of God to make earthly sacrifices for the sake of the cross to take servant leadership roles in our churches. Thank you for praying with us.

-Pana

If you are interested in missions in Papua New Guinea, check out To Every Tribe Ministries. The founder, David Sitton, was a speaker at our 2006 pastors conference. You can listen to his message Missionary Martyrs: Fools for Jesus for the Nations.

"Massively" attacked by a Squirrel

2007-06-15T13:09:00.001-05:00

Gotta wipe my eyes....
clipped from www.reuters.com
Squirrel goes on rampage, injures 3

1 of 1Full Size

BERLIN (Reuters) - An aggressive squirrel attacked and injured three people in a German town before a 72-year-old pensioner dispatched the rampaging animal with his crutch.

The squirrel first ran into a house in the southern town of Passau, leapt from behind on a 70-year-old woman, and sank its teeth into her hand, a local police spokesman said Thursday.

With the squirrel still hanging from her hand, the woman ran onto the street in panic, where she managed to shake it off.

The animal then entered a building site and jumped on a construction worker, injuring him on the hand and arm, before he managed to fight it off with a measuring pole.

"After that, the squirrel went into the 72-year-old man's garden and massively attacked him on the arms, hand and thigh," the spokesman said. "Then he killed it with his crutch."

The spokesman said experts thought the attack may have been linked to the mating season or because the squirrel was ill.

This is horribly sad!

2007-06-07T13:10:00.001-05:00

I, too, cannot imagine the grief of the father.

By God's grace - I hope I never have to experience such agony.

g
clipped from king.typepad.com
Tragic news
18-year-old Kelsey Smith, who was abducted coming out of a Target Store four days ago, was found dead this afternoon. Kelsey was very involved at Hillcrest Covenant Church where our good friend Nate Severson is the youth pastor. We have been in tears over Kelsey's situation several times over the last couple of days. Our Jessica was in this Target the other night on her way to camp. I can't imagine how parents can go through this. Kelsey's father has spoken several times with extraordinary wisdom and grace. The Grace of God is the only explanation for the amazing response from Kelsey's family. Please pray for Kelsey's family, friends, for Nate Severson and the rest of the staff at Hillcrest Covenant Church. Our hearts go out to the whole church family.

Worth chewing on for a while

2007-06-04T13:12:00.001-05:00

clipped from www.theocentricpreaching.com
Christless Christianity
Michael Horton reminds us of the absolute importance of preaching Christ:
What would things look like if Satan actually took over a city? The first frames in our imaginative slide show probably depict mayhem on a massive scale: Widespread violence, deviant sexualities, pornography in every vending machine, churches closed down and worshipers dragged off to City Hall. Over a half-century ago, Donald Grey Barnhouse, pastor of Philadelphia’s Tenth Presbyterian Church, gave his CBS radio audience a different picture of what it would look like if Satan took control of a town in America. He said that all of the bars and pool halls would be closed, pornography banished, pristine streets and sidewalks would be occupied by tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The kids would answer ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘No, ma’am,’ and the churches would be full on Sunday … where Christ is not preached.
From the May/June 2007 issue of Modern Reformation

Look to your Left

2007-05-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

No, I meant the left part of the screen.

I just wanted my numerous readers to note the column Moose's Chooses.

It is a tool from Google that allows me to share interesting blog entries with you - without cutting and pasting them into my own blog.

God's Grace is Sufficient
from Persecution Blog by Stacy L. Harp

Dobson's Decision

2007-05-24T08:50:00.001-05:00

I believe I must concur with Dr. Dobson on this one.
clipped from www.dennyburk.com
Speaking as a private citizen and not on behalf of any organization or party, I cannot, and will not, vote for Rudy Giuliani in 2008. It is an irrevocable decision. If given a . . . choice between him and Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, I will either cast my ballot for an also-ran – or if worse comes to worst – not vote in a presidential election for the first time in my adult life. My conscience and my moral convictions will allow me to do nothing else.

My kind of Funeral

2007-05-24T07:32:00.001-05:00

Be sure to watch the newstory, the funeral tape and Jeff's Interview.

HT: The World From Our Window by Don Fields - http://theworldfrommywindow.blogspot.com
clipped from www.myfoxatlanta.com
Jeff Foxworthy Helps Give One Man a Legacy of Laughter

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (FOX 5) – In 22 years of comedy, Jeff Foxworthy said he has never gotten a request quite like the one he received from a retired Delta pilot. John Minaberry of Fayetteville had terminal cancer and wanted a funeral filled with more laughter than tears. Click on video for more information. FOX 5's Doug Evans reports.

Stonings in Iraq

2007-05-18T08:26:00.001-05:00

How does this affect you - considering stoning was a prescribed form of punishment in Old Testament times. I know there are political and theocratical differences...
clipped from www.persecutionblog.com
May 17, 2007

Video of Girl's Stoning Highlights Honor Killings

The video I'm about to highlight isn't about Christian persecution specifically, but it does show the difference between how some non Christian countries treat women compared to how the Christian faith does. The video is GRAPHIC and bloody, so don't watch it if you have a weak stomach.

I applaud CNN for bringing light to such a horrific practice that still continues today. This story highlights "honor killings" that are still happening in Iraq. Her crime - falling in love with a Muslim boy from a different religion.

Click here to watch.

FIDE-O: Black Haired Virgins?

2007-05-09T11:54:00.000-05:00
FIDE-O: Black Haired Virgins?

You need to check this one out!