Remnant Encouragement Day - Feb. 1

I'm joining Ingrid @ Slice on this, for tomorrow. Check it out here. Why not join in as well?


tags: Biblical Christianity

I am having one of the worst days today, that I've had in a very long time. If anyone feels inclined to pray for me and the kids today, that would be a real blessing.

Because my mom is just the greatest...

Well, I'd like to add one more thing before I go rummaging through the cupboard for the Advil.

I learned today that a story I wrote about my mom, was published in a magazine. How neat is that? Here's the link to the story (and welcome to the readers from Home Educator's Family Times), and here's an update of sorts to the story. What a nice thing that this is. Now even more people will know just how great my mom really is!
:o)

I re-read the story they ran, and I must say... it does motivate me to be a bit more careful with my grammar and punctuation on hurried blog posts, for the future. Just not tonight, I'm exhausted and my shin is screaming at me.

tags: Biblical Christianity, The Button Jar Speaks

Kids, intake grates and an armload of laundry...

do not mix well. Especially if the kids happened to have removed the furnace intake grate, and forgot to put it back properly. It's even more of a disastrous mix when their mother walks towards it with an armload of laundry (which obstructs her view of the grate being askew) and steps on it.

You guessed it. The grate fell into the intake duct, and so did I. To the lovely sound of SNAP and POP in my leg. Down I went, laundry flying everywhere. I thought for sure there was bone sticking out, so I had to have Kev look. That is of course, after he prayed to calm me down. It hurt bad enough there should have been a big ole bone sticking out, but thankfully there wasn't.

It's not broken, and I have no idea what the snap, crackle & pop was. It does hurt like the dickens, however.

Note for tomorrow's project list: get the cordless drill/screwdriver and bolt that grate to the floor.

Customer comments?

I need your help (again).

Have you purchased an item at Reflections? If you have, would you consider contacting me here with your customer comments?

I ask for a few reasons.

1. I'd really appreciate the feedback, it would help me significantly as I create new graphics and upload new photogrpahic images for new products. Any constructive criticism will be used to just make the product BETTER.

2. People like reading what other real people have to say. I know from my own perspective, I feel a lot more confident shopping at an online retailer when I read what others had to say about their shopping experiences. Any GOOD feedback will be considered for future publication, with your permission, of course. Publication such as press releases, store newsletter, store blog, this blog, etc. Added bonus is, this is free advertising for your website or blog, if you have one :o)

3. I need help advertising. I won't pretend anything less. It's my goal (and my hope) this year to make this store a successful venture, and you can help me do that.

Here's a real example of what I'm looking for. This comes from a chatter pal who recently purchased this shirt:

"The shirt arrived less than a week after I ordered it -- about the quickest service I've ever had from an online merchant; it looks just fine, and it fits great! Count me a satisfied customer." Clyde Bauman, Bismarck, ND.

Clyde gave me permission to use that comment in a press release that went out today (which was very cool of him, thank you so much Clyde!)

So, how about you? I'd really appreciate your thoughts on the products you've purchased through Reflections. If you have a blog, site, or other url you'd like to add to your comment, please feel free to do that. The order process is so secure, that while I have your name & location, I don't even have access to your email address! (how's that for privacy, eh?). Here are some of the items that I'd like feedback on... was this you? Fire off a quick email to me with your feedback!

• 5 Solas Black T
• 5 Solas Black Mug
• Penguin Love Infant/Toddler T-Shirt
• Homeschool Dad Baseball Jersey
• Homeschool Mom Cap
• Cardinal Pair Throw Pillow
• North Country Wolves Throw Pillow
• 2006 Scripscenes Wall Calendar
• Sealed by Grace Green T-Shirt





tags: Biblical Christianity, customer comments, Christian retail, Christian t-shirts

Just another Monday

And so begins another week...

This is Kev's last week of continental shift. He's been on this shift for many years, and one day a few weeks ago, the powers that be at work decided to do away with this shift, and put everyone on 3 rotating shifts, instead. Starting February 6th, Kev goes on afternoon shift for 2 months. After that, he'll rotate with everyone else, 2 weeks on days, 2 weeks on afternoons, and 2 weeks on midnight shift. This is going to take a lot of getting used to. The one thing we're grateful for is that he'll be off every weekend, rather than every other weekend, and this will allow us to be in church on a more regular basis. Other than that, there's not much benefit in this new shift change, for us as a family. We're trying hard to find some good there.

I didn't feel well last night so I turned in early. I still don't feel so great this morning, so sitting down with the kids and doing our Monday lessons might be a bit of a stretch. I'm not sure what's wrong, I just feel completely exhausted. Even after sleeping a solid 8 hours last night. I hope it's not another whopper-virus, I'm so tired of those sweeping through the family and leaving us all in varying stages of sorta sick/sick/really sick.

I was reading over the weekend several reflections of folks on "where they were" when the Challenger disaster took place. It's odd to think it was really 20 years ago. Maybe it's saying it that way "20 years ago..." that makes it seem weird. I recall a time when my oldest daughter was little, she said something along the lines of "I can't wait until I'm older so I can say things about "20 years ago".

Well, 20 years ago, I was pregnant with Jennifer, and on that day I had just walked up to the corner store with Caryn, who had just turned 3. By the time we arrived at the store, they had the tv on, and didn't even notice us come in. The folks in the store were standing in front of their little black & white tv in silence. Caryn and I just stood there in silence too. They were already replaying the explosion portion of the tape, over and over and over. We walked home and it began to rain, and I started to cry, thinking of the reality of what had just happened.

Oddly enough, over the weekend I had a very bizarre dream, that I went back in time 20 years. I went back with the information I have now, about life 20 years later. I had the option of ignoring what I now know, or using it to change things. If I ignored it, I would simply have to live the last 20 years all over again, without any deviation from events that took place. If I used it to change even the smallest thing, none of my five youngest kids would be born, Kev and I would not be married, and life would be completely different. It was a most miserable dream. Completely useless except for one small detail.

It allowed me to think about how God is in control of even the tiniest of details in our lives. I'm so glad He is, because were it up to me, I'd mess it up for sure. Like a row of dominos, I'd foul one thing up and the whole thing would just come crashing down. I'm so glad it's Him in control of things, and not me.

One more thing before I go make oatmeal. The Leap Pad Phonics Library was one the smartest investments I've ever made. I saw it on sale at Wal-Mart at Christmas, and thought "this would be really good for school". Not only is it good for school, it's just good, period. Jordan uses it all the time (I can hear it right now), and Ruth carries it around like it's hers. In fact, she's often requested it in her bed at night, instead of her favorite pink plush kitty she calls "Track-a-Pip". That's Ruth-speak for "Patrick". We don't know why she named kitty that, but she did. (And yes, when she met Kim's son Patrick she called him Track-a-Pip). Track-a-Pip is often replaced by the phonics library, and at 2 years old this child is spelling words. Whoever came up with the Leap Pad idea, was really on to something.

I wish I felt better this morning. I don't like beginning the week this way. One of the only good things about it being Monday is that Jack Bauer is on, and bad guys will go down. Something about bad guys going down that just brings a sparkle to the day.

Time for oatmeal.

tags: Biblical Christianity, Challenger anniversary, God's sovereignty, Leap pad, Jack Bauer, 24

New stuff at my store :o)

Being as busy as I am, I try to set aside the weekends (usually Saturday sometime) to work on new graphics or things of that nature, for my store. So, I was able to get a couple of new ones done this weekend. Here they are, and you can click the graphic to see the actual lines, in the store:

Jewel Hearts

St. Patrick's Day Gear

tags: Reflections, Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day

More soapboxing

Yesterday, I touched on a subject that is pretty close to home for me. The ever popular "homeschooling v. public schooling" issue. I ended that post with this:

And then will come the argument "but I send my kids to public school, and we raise them in a godly home and they do know how to deal with that stuff!". Or this one "yeah well, not all homeschooled kids can deal with those things once they are exposed to them". Both statements are true, to some degree. At another time, maybe I'll go into those things from my own perspective as a mom who's been on both sides of this fence. A mom who did send her oldest girls to public school, and saw the result, and a mom who now homeschools.

The thing is, I have written about this before, many many times . Before I say any more, I have to say this gem from Pecadillo (Phil Johnson's son) is priceless:

"I don't get all the debate over public school vs. private christian or home schoool, do what my parents did; put your kid in a room with various cleaning products, stacks of old newspapers, a book of matches, and a stray dog and let them learn the ways of the world on their own. Kids are smarter than we think." (source)

I laughed, and laughed, and then thought "I am so glad he's Phil's kid, and not mine, posting that about his upbringing". I know my oldest daughter reads this blog, as well as my mom, and they could both sink me in a heartbeat with their own humorous versions of "what life is REALLY like in that house".

In any case, on this topic, we need to walk softly and carry a large cheesecake. We need to remember that not all kids are the same (for proof, just look at Pecadillo's pic again), not all public school systems are the same (there is a HUGE difference between a small school in the midwest, and an inner city school in NY), not all public school teachers are the same (kudos to the Christian, public school teachers trying hard to be a positive influence) and not all parents and homes, are the same.

I can only address this from my own perspective, and my own experience. In a nutshell, public schools had a horrid influence on my kids, that in retrospect, I wish I could have avoided for their sakes. Jonathan (aka Pecadillo) says "kids are smarter than we think". While I will certainly agree with him, I have to add that kids are not however, more mature than we think. Nor are kids above being influenced in the wrong direction.

When I was about 15, I recall my high school counsellor commenting to me one day that I had a "good head on my shoulders", and he was impressed with my future plans. I chalked it up to that just being something high school counsellors tell all the kids for a boost to the old self esteem, until more and more people began making similar comments to me. Older people, people that were credible, that didn't have any real ulterior job-related reason to say that.

But at the same time, I was certainly no more mature than most other 15 year old girls. And I was without a doubt no more or less prone to influences of my peers. Good or bad. In fact, for whatever reason I leaned toward the bad influences and that began a very LONG pattern in my life.

That was you, you'll say. That's not MY kid, you'll say. Well, you may be right. Then again, you may be seeing your kid through rose-colored-parental glasses. We do it all the time, as parents. Even those of us that really do know our kids are just as capable of rotten choices, as they are at times of really good choices. We have this tendency to think more highly of our kids than is realistic to think.

How do I know this? Well, how often have you heard a public school parent tell you that his 8 year old son is being a powerful witness for Christ, in his elementary school? For those of you who have been down this debate-road before, you've heard it as many times as I have.

Do you want to know what his 8 year old son is really doing? He's picking his nose, doodling on his paper, daydreaming about recess during grammar, and playing with the miniture rescue heros in his pocket. He's EIGHT, that's what eight year old boys do, by and large. It's the very (and I do mean VERY) rare case, that an 8 year old child is so far advanced beyond his peers in spiritual matters, that he's actually being the kind of Christian influence his parents paint him out to be.

Sure, he might be some kind of witness for the Lord at times, and he might make mom & dad proud with his responses to certain situations. But overall, he's being portrayed as a little John the Baptist in the local school system, and it's quite removed from what's really going on.

Kids are kids. They think like kids, act like kids, and speak like kids. We as their parents can indeed (and should!) be having a positive influence on them in the home, but we need to be careful not to build up this idea of who they really are. An idea that they feel pressured to live up to, when they don't have the spiritual maturity, the social skills, or even the desire to do so.

Whenever we hear about an adult believer that struggles with his or her witness in their workplace, we pray for them and comfort them and assure them that "yes, I know how hard it can be". That's a realistic response to a fellow believer, because it is hard to live out your Christian worldview, in a secular-humanistic world. At the same time however, we tend to expect so much more from our kids, in the same exact situation in public schools. Why do we put that kind of pressure on them? I don't know. But I do know, I did the same thing when my oldest daughter was going into junior high. I expected way more from her, than she was prepared to live up to, in this area.

While my expectations were too high, I also spent ample time with her each day after school, attempting to un-teach her what she'd learned in a secular school (as far as morality & the Christian worldview goes, anyway).

So I said all that, to basically say this:

Not all kids are the same - and not all kids are going to be able to handle public schools. Many of the kids who are now in public schools, who have never been homeschooled, can't handle the pressures in public schools. At the same time, some kids do really well there. Some kids are in fact a great witness for Christ, in that kind of setting. Those kids are the exception to the rule, but they certainly should not be the standard that we hold all kids up to. No more than the exceptional athlete, the brainy kid, or the social butterfly at school, should be a standard we hold our kids up to.

My readers here likely also read Kim's blog over at The Upward Call. If you don't, you should. You already know her homeschooled teenage daughter is entering public high school this week. If you've been reading her blog, and her hopes and expectations for her daughter, you'll have a really good example of what we ought to be doing as Christian homeschooling parents.

Kim doesn't have unrealistic, high expectations for her daughter. At the same time, she also does have high hopes for her. She hasn't gone dogmatic against homeschoolers now that she's an (almost) public school mom, and she's figured out how to strike a balance here - a very realistic balance. A balance that can only come from a parent that's been (or is currently) on both sides of this issue.

I've confided to Kim that if we had a good school here in my area, I'd be ready to send our 15 year old to public highschool. She's ready to "graduate" from homeschooling, in many ways, and take the next step in growing up and experience what it's like to be in the world - being in mixed company of Christians, unbelievers, and everyone in between. She's ready, because she's been firmly grounded in a Christ-centered education and foundation for the last 6 years. While there will be difficult situations that Kim's daughter will deal with, she will have the added bonus of being able to deal with them, from the position of having the benefit of a Christian education. Not just being in a Christian home, but being educated in a Christian worldview. There is a difference there. Not all kids in Christian homes are taught what this difference is. Not all Christian parents understand that there is a difference to begin with.

I've never had the pleasure of meeting Kim's daughter yet, but I have met Kim, her husband Neil, and her two boys. If anyone still thinks that homeschooled kids are large headed meatballs that couldn't socialize if their lives depended on it, or have any clue at all about politics, read Virginia Shay's blog post on politics. It's a pretty good summary of what the political climate is like here in Canada, from a 16 yr old homeschooled girl's eyes. Kim's boys, also, are very well-mannered, respectable kids, that had no issues at all socializing with my kids (and tearing apart the game room in the process - genuine kid-conduct!, lol). On another occaision, when her son Patrick helped out with some work here, when spoken to he answered with "yes please" or "no thank you". Every time. A very personable kid, indeed.

Not that I really meant to make this post about Kim and her family (and I hope I don't embarass her too much!), I figured I'd just let you all know, she's my homeschooling mom-hero. I used them as examples for this because they're great examples of the reality of homeschooling. The reality of struggling with decisions to do what's best for the kids, to follow the leading of the Lord, to live in a secular world, and live out a Christian worldview, in spite of it.

And the one great thing about this family, is that they do not have a family portrait of themselves, in matching turtlenecks, all posed the same way, with the family pets, by a lovely brook in the woods. Those people aren't real. And if they are, I want to know what laundry soap they use that keeps those spiffy whites, spiffy white.

I was called away from this entry several times, so if my thoughts appear to be disconnected at times, well... that's why. I hope it made at least some amount of sense.

Soapboxing done.



tags: Biblical Christianity, homeschooling

In a celtic mood...

What is it about celtic music that just reaches in, grabs you "right there" and holds your attention?

Tonight, while doing 800 things at once here at the pc, Kev and Jessica are watching Return of the King (the third in the LOTR series). Just a few minutes ago was the scene where Pippin sings this:

Home is behind

The world ahead

And there are many paths to tread

Through shadow

To the edge of night

Until the stars are all alight

Mist and shadow

Cloud and shade

All shall fade

All shall fade

The words themselves, while very simplistic, really speak volumes. But it's not just the words, it's the way it's sung. It made me stop, and listen. That always happens when I hear celtic music. There's a haunting beauty to it, that words can't even describe, adequately.

When Kev and I first met, one of his favorite groups was IONA. For those of you that do not know who they are, they're a celtic group. (Give a listen to some of IONA right here) I'd never heard of them before he told me about them, and once I heard them, I was hooked.

After we were married we were seperated for 2 months, and I nearly wore out my IONA cd, playing it every day, for the very silly reason of feeling closer to Kev. Once we were back together, I gave my cd to my oldest daughter, and she got hooked too.

If I could sing, I mean really sing, this is the music I'd sing.

tags: celtic music, IONA

The Guys Rules

Okay, before I get to the homeschooling issue I said I'd write on today, I just have to post this. My friend Sandi sent me this in an email last night, and it did make me laugh. GUYS, you need to respond and let us all know if this is really true.
*****************************

The Guys Rules

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down. Finally, the guys' side of the story. We always hear "the rules" From the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are our rules! Please note…these are all numbered "1"ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are not mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.We need it up, you need it down.You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moonor the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months IS a problem. See a doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something, or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear Is fine... Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation,Or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.


tags: guys rules, humorous email forwards

Visitor Map

Well, here's my world map of the last 100 visitors to the site. Pretty neat, eh?

tags: Biblical Christianity, blogger world map

Soapboxing

I hate to say "I told ya so", but... well, you know. The latest flap over Brian McClaren is nothing new. There are hard working folks out there that have been sounding the warning about this guy, and his influence, and his "movement" that isn't a movement but a fluid conversation, and his teachings that in NO WAY represent Biblical Christianity... for a very long time now. Take a look at the links in the side bar at ENo, for just a few examples of this.

Myself and the other contributors to ENo have been at this for the last 14 months, and we were late to the topic ourselves. I find it ironic that some of these resources we list at ENo are mocked, laughed at, and written off as conspiracy-theory-type crackpots, but they're saying and have been saying the exact (in some cases literally word for word) same thing for years, that folks have said this week, about McClaren, and those under his influence.

One of the more common statements I've read this week goes a lot like this:

"I can't believe a man who is a pastor, and widely-read author, would take this position on homosexuality".

To which his defenders answer with some variation of "he was taken out of context!"

I'm just glad that more people are finally seeing what some have been saying for the last several years. I hope it continues and more people begin to pay attention to this.

************************************

In other news...

Okay this part is not news, it's just something that really makes no sense, and genuinely frustrates. I'm referring to people that have no children, who consistantly find opportunities to tell Christian homeschooling parents, how to best raise their kids.

Whenever I hear this, or read this, my thoughts drift back to when I was a teenager and my best friend Marlyne and I would talk about how we were going to raise our kids. I distinctly recall her saying "when I have kids, I'm going to let them do (fill in the blank)". I don't ever remember disagreeing with her on that. Likely, whatever it was we were boldly declaring we were going to "let our kids do!" was something our parents didn't let us do. Not a lot of wisdom or reasoning in that response, but that's the way it was.

Whenever I hear someone impart their wisdom on child rearing and/or education options, that doesn't have children, I do listen closely to what they have to say. Often times, they do in fact make some very good points, and have some pretty good ideas about how it's really is, to raise kids. Other times though, they really have no idea what they're saying, and that comes from a lack of life experience. Just like when I was 15 and had determined I was going to let my kids do (fill in the blank).

Sadly, quite often this is the same group of people that "I know a homeschooling family, and all their kids have huge heads, no fashion sense, they're all social outcasts and they don't even know about world politics".

I find that bizarre. Now, while I am sure this family exists (I suspect they travel a lot, and it's the same family that everyone's talking about), I've not had the pleasure of meeting them yet. The homeschooling families I know, in the majority of cases, the kids are quite entertaining to speak with, well-mannered, well educated, and often are more aware of modern world events than I am.

Now there are some homeschooled kids that are not as sharp as other kids, and there are some HS kids that have behavioral issues, moreso than other kids - and I'm sure there are some HS kids that are a little messed up in the social graces as well. I know this for a fact, since I have a variety of personalities in my own home, that excel in some areas, and struggle in others. And they're all homeschooled.

The thing is, their personalities would be exactly as they are now, no matter where they went to school. Whether it was the school room in our house, or the school room in the local government building. Would they "know more" or be "more polite" or be "more social" if they were in that setting?

I think they would know different things, their manners would be different, and their social skills would be somewhat different, for sure. But would those things be better, or just different? That all depends on the individual kid and their personalities, and really has very little to do with HS'ing at all.

"They're sheltered! if you homeschool them!". Well, yes they are. They are sheltered at tender ages from garbage that little kids have no business being exposed to. Little kids need a consistant, SOLID foundation with a Christ-centered worldview. What they do not need, is to be forced into dealing with why their 2nd grade teacher, Mr. Jones, has a boyfriend. Hello? Kids at 7 or 8 years old have no idea how to process that. Shoot, most of the teenagers I know have a hard time processing it, not to mention adults.

I get weary of unsolicited advice on how to stop sheltering my kids. Folks who want my kids to be exposed to drugs, promiscuity, homosexual lifestyles, violence, favoritism, cliques, and all that lovely stuff you'll find in nearly any public school. Look, if folks want to expose their kids to that, and spend ample time with them explaining day after day after day, why they're not supposed to take the authorities in their public school as authority on these matters, then that's their business. I won't expose my kids to that. They're only kids for a very short period of time, they will have their entire adult lives to deal with those things. Dealing with them, I hope, from a firm foundation of education as a child, from a Biblical worldview, rather than a secular one. Hopefully, they will deal with those things prepared & equipped, to deal with them, when the time comes.

And then will come the argument "but I send my kids to public school, and we raise them in a godly home and they do know how to deal with that stuff!". Or this one "yeah well, not all homeschooled kids can deal with those things once they are exposed to them".

Both statements are true, to some degree. At another time, maybe I'll go into those things from my own perspective as a mom who's been on both sides of this fence. A mom who did send her oldest girls to public school, and saw the result, and a mom who now homeschools.

Have a great Saturday. :o)


tags: Biblical Christianity, Brian McClaren, homeschooling

The Blood Applied

Several years ago, I participated on a forum run by free will Baptists. For some reason, they even made me a forum manager. I always found that odd, since they knew I didn’t agree with free will teaching, and they didn’t restrict my liberty to post items on my position.

One day, one of the ex-forum managers came along and got a bit miffed with the idea there was a “Calvinist!?” running the forum. The way some people say that, conjures up images of child-eating monsters. This lady immediately zeroed in on my posts on limited atonement. The challenge was on.

I honestly wasn’t interested in a “challenge”, but since she was so demanding I took my time over several very long posts, to explain to her from the Scriptures why I believe limited atonement, or particular redemption to be true. The article below is one of the forum posts I shared with her, at that time (edited just a bit, after 4 years)

What did His blood actually do?

Recently I was asked to support my belief, that the Bible does not teach that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. The term whole world being used here is to mean, every single human being that ever lived, lives now, or ever will live.

I was asked to share just one verse, and I shared these:

• Matthew 1:21
• John 10:25 - 27
• John 6:37; 6:44; 6:45; 6:65; 8:47; 12:37; 17:9
• Hebrews 9:28
• Isaiah 53:12
• Matthew 26:28; 20:28

For this article, let's just look at Matthew 1:21: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins"(emphasis mine). It's important to notice this about this verse. It does not say that He shall save all humanity, it clearly says HIS people.

So who are Gods people?

We know that Gods people are those who believe, and follow Him. (Acts 13:39, John 10:26,7)

So, how does one believe?

The Bible says that belief is given. That the very ability to believe that Jesus is who He says He is, and that what He did on the cross was victorious and final, is something that does not come from inside a man, on his own. The ability to believe this, comes from God, enabling us to believe. (Philippians 1:29)

Will all human beings believe?

No, the Bible clearly teaches us that the path to life is narrow, and few will find it. (Matthew 7:14)

So if Jesus came to save His people and His people are those who believe and belief is given by God and not all human beings will believe, then did Jesus spill His blood for those He knew were not His people? Would never be of His people, never believe, never follow Him?

This would be literally, theologically, biblically, and thoroughly impossible. How can I say that? Simple - by saying that goats do not ever become sheep. Goats are always goats, sheep are always sheep, and one never ceases to be what one is. There are lost sheep, but there is no such thing as a redeemed goat. It's not in Scripture anywhere.

Let's look closer at this by examining what the actual shedding of His perfect blood, and death on the cross accomplished.

1. Remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22)
2. Brought human beings close to God (Ephesians 2:13)
3. Gave human beings the confidence that we will enter heaven (Hebrews 10:19)
4. Enabled human beings to overcome the accusations of Satan (Revelation 12:11)
5. Put away sin (Hebrews 9:26)
6. Sanctified (to conserate or purify) (Hebrews 10:10)
7. Perfected forever those that were sanctified (to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end) (Hebrews 10:14)
8. Preserved (Jude 1:1)
9. Reconciled (Ephesians 2:16)
10. Redemption & Forgiveness ( Ephesians 1:7)
11. Justified (Romans 3:26)
12. Gave righteousness in Him (2Cor. 5:21)
13. Delivered from the power of darkness (Col. 1:13)
14. Presents holy, unblameable and unreporvable ( Col. 1:22)
15. Made heirs of the promise (James 2:5)

This is just a small list of what the death of Jesus, the precious blood He spilled, did.

Those who insist the Bible teaches that Jesus died for ALL HUMAN BEINGS, must confess, that ALL HUMAN BEINGS can claim these very same promises, listed here.

They must confess that this victory over sin on the cross, was a victory for all human beings who ever lived, now living, or will live.

They must confess that every human being will be drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit, given the ability to believe, suffer godly sorrow to repent, and receive as truth what Christ DID, on the cross, and rose again after the third day.

They must confess the Bible teaches us that all human beings will be saved, because of what the cross represents, and what the blood DID do.

We must understand, these are not things the blood might have done, or tried to do, or did in part. These are all literal outcomes of what the precious blood of Jesus DID accomplish.

OR

They must confess that His blood failed for some, and His death, was ineffective for some.

OR

They must confess that His blood and His death, did in fact accomplish all Scripture tells us that it did, for every single human being enabled by God to believe, to confess, to repent, and to follow Christ. And since we know that not all will do that, they must also confess that Jesus did NOT die for all human beings, but DID die for all human beings the Father would draw to Him.

There can be no compromise on this. The ungodly, the reprobate, the unbeliever who will die in his sin, cannot claim any of these promises listed in Scripture - and yet - there are millions who say each day, that they can, because Jesus died for ALL human beings, every human being in the world.

To say that they can only claim these promises IF they believe, is to say that man is capable of manufacturing belief on Christ, from a carnal mind that is 100% opposed to the very holiness OF Christ. And yet, even IF a person says they (the whole world) can claim these promises if they just believe, then they are still limiting the atonement of Jesus, to those who believe.

Either the atonement was fully accomplished, final and victorious, for all He would call - or the atonement of Jesus was for all human beings, and the Bible teaches universal salvation, universal victory over sin, hell, and condemnation, for "the whole world".

tags: Biblical Christianity, limited atonement, the blood of Jesus

You'll want to sit down for this...

Are you sitting down? No, I mean really sitting down? Okay good. I'm about to admit something that you might find ghastly.

If I were a male, evangelical blogger, I believe I would be Frank Turk.
ISN'T THAT CREEPY!?

Here's why:

1. He posts the SAME topics, and at times even the same graphics, on the same day, sometimes even the same hour, that I did, or was about to.

2. He's insane.

3. His passion for sound doctrine is unmistakable.

4. He can't spell to save his life.

5. He's insane.

6. He infuriates people without even really trying.

7. He's seriously misunderstood by more than a few people.

8. Candy coating truth doesn't appeal to him.

And I'd list a few more reasons, like the fact that he's insane, but I think you get my drift. I even told Kim a few weeks ago, during a phone conversation where we were gossipping about bloggers, er... I mean... rejoicing in good blog material, that Frank is the male version of me. Okay yes, it sounds all weird and everything, but that's the way I see it. Maybe we are twins, seperated at birth? Maybe he's my brother's twin, that my mom never told us about? I dunno, but there ya go.

This "hey, he posted what I was going to post!" thing happens at least once a week, and it happened again today. I hadn't checked my world map on site meter in quite a while, so I thought I'd do that today, then post a little snapshot of it. Then I thought "no, Frank likely will and then folks might think I copycatted him or something". I thought, after I ran errands today, if Frank hadn't posted his map, I'd post mine. SO WHAT DOES FRANK DO THIS MORNING? You got it, he posted his world map! How this person reads my mind, I will never know, but it's rather annoying.

So there you have it, Frank Turk is my evil, fraternal twin. I'm the good one, and I'm the one who wears this cap. And you know what else? GUESS who my last blog visitor was? Mmmhmmm.... that's right, it was Frank.

Something fishy going on around here...



tags: Biblical Christianity

Blog Brownout

Once upon a time in a land not so far removed from you, there was so much garbage and filth on the internet that it was hard to surf around without running into it, constantly. Well, that aspect hasn't changed at all (except to get worse, sadly), but something else has. Christians, rather than just complaining about it, began doing something about it.

Christians began to put up websites. And forums, and blogs, and audio file sites, and book review sites, and more and more, the Christian community online, began to grow. And grow, and grow, and GROW.

Granted, there is no shortage of "Christian" sites that are seriously lacking in any real comprehension of what a Biblical Christian actually is, but those are not the sites I'm referring to. I'm referring to really great blogs, hard hitting forums, web pages with whole books on them (literally) convicting sermons, and studies.

While this indeed is a really great thing in general, for me it's also not a very good thing. I'm an information junkie, and I've begun to overload on good info. I'm also a mom, a very busy homeschooling mom, and my time on the 'net must be carefully managed or I end up with oodles of guilt. Guilt is never fun.

It has occured to me several times in this past week, that I really need to scale down, again. I do this from time to time and it always feels like I'm cutting off a limb when I do it. Maybe that's not such a bad thing, afterall?

I have too many sites in my favorites. I have far too many blogs listed in my bloglines subscriptions. I want to read them all, every day, but I just can't. There just isn't enough time in the day to do that, and maintain my duties here in my home.

So, it's time to do what I need to do, and remove some links from my favorites & subscriptions. Not because they don't bless me every day, and not because I still wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Only because I have to remain diligent in managing my time online. I never enjoy doing this, it's like giving away my favorite sweater. I love it, but I'm better suited to having only a few, than having too many choices.

In that regard, there's a new poll over yonder in the sidebar. I'd be interested to see the results, and to read your comments on this.

P.S. I've removed the shoutbox in the sidebar, after having far too many pop-ups from less than desirable advertisers. If I can find another one that doesn't include that junk, I'll put it up there.


tags: Biblical Christianity, Christian blogging, online reading habits, blog polls

Just a smattering...

Whew, I think I'm actually caught up on ALL my email! If I missed anyone, I'm blaming my cat. Poor kitty has some kind of cut or other kind of wound on his foot and I've been dealing with him off & on today. He's got one more day to get better, or I sell something and haul him to the vet tomorrow.

One of my readers pointed out something to me that was really good. Something I wanted to point out as well.

The other night when I posted about the Lord's healing hand on me, I never realized it until it was brought up, that it might be mistaken for something else. Something it should never be mistaken for.

When we pray, we must always pray for the Lord's will to be done in our lives. With that, that He might also be pleased to give us the grace, courage, wisdom and mercy, to understand His will, and be content with it. Even when His will does not match the way we prayed. Even when, the answer is "no" or "wait". If we're going to trust Him in prayer, we must be prepared to trust Him in His divine wisdom, when the answer is not what we wanted to hear.

My husband Kevin tackled "prayer" a couple of years ago, here. His insight on spiritual matters is a true blessing to me, and if I would actually let him use my pc, he'd have a great blog. Maybe someday?

Speaking of blogs, I've updated my photoblog with some shots from today, and my store's blog with my newest design.

I had a few other things to write about tonight, but that will have to wait for another time.

tags: Biblical Christianity, prayer

And now, your local weather: sunny with a high of hypocrisy.

You know, liberalism is a strange duck. Liberalism says "let this group have their say!" and it says "leave this group alone" and then it says "tolerance is everything!". Unless of course you're referring to conservative Christians who have strong convictions, and a platform to air them. Like on blogs. Then the rules change. Then liberalism says "you're unfair!" and "you're hateful!" or "you have no right to hold this position".

Last I checked, that's a double standard, and reeks of hypocrisy. Is it just me, misunderstanding the way liberalism works, or is that indeed how it does work?

Apply this to pretty much any social or spiritual issue. I see it more and more all the time, no matter what the topic. What grieves me more than anything else I suppose, is when I see it coming from professing believers who use Jesus as their scolding-stick. "How dare you, what would Jesus say about this!?". It's truly ridiculous. It reminds me of the mistake on my local weather page recently that said "Tonight: clear and sunny".

Okay, rant over.

For those of you that have emailed me in the last week or so, no I am not ignoring you, I just got backed up on my email and I'm really swamped now. I promise to make every effort to get to those emails in the next couple of days.

tags: Biblical Christianity, tolerance, hypocrisy

Wednesday Misc.

If you're reading via subscription, you probably can't see the new header graphic I put on last night. This is a computer generated sketch (I only wish I could hand sketch this well!) of one of my favorite comfy-tees. I plan to re-work this a bit and make it available at my store, very soon.

Everything I had planned to write about yesterday, went out the window (for various reasons). I do wish to thank the commenters from last night & today for their kind words re: my "episode" last night, however.

We're in the middle of a pretty significant weather event right now (whiteout conditions, winds at around 70-80k [that's roughly 45mph], snowsqualls, etc.) and Kev actually drove to work in it. I'd heard about whiteouts but had never been in one, until we moved out here to the country. If you're standing in your home, watching it out the window, they're pretty cool looking. However, if you're in a vehicle on the road, and get caught in one, "cool" is not the word that comes to mind. "Uh oh" is a more apt word. Then prayer. Have you ever been in a situation where it was pitch black-dark, and you couldn't see your own hand in front of your face? That's sort of what a whiteout is like, except... well... it's white, and not dark. You'd never know if another car was about to hit you, until it did. You'd never see it coming.

From where I sit right here, I can look out my window across the empty corn field, and see the main highway that connects the towns north of us, and the towns south of us. It's the only main road, and it's pretty heavily used, especially by the trucking companies. In a whiteout, I'm lucky if I can make out the edge of the barn out back, and I can't see the highway at all. You don't even realize how much snow you're getting, until the snowsquall passes. They're saying for my area today it could be around 40cm (that's roughly 18 inches) before it slows down this afternoon. That's a lot of snow!

Oh well...

The other day, Tim posted his thoughts on blogging, after reading a blog post from Mark Dever, on blogging. How many times can you use blog, or a variation of blog, in one sentence, before you're blogged-out? I don't know, but I just did it. Tim's thoughts were very well layed out, and I agreed with his post. I even agreed with some of the points Dever brought up in his post, especially concerning unbalanced attention when it comes to blogging.

I thought I'd address some of his points here, but then I a thought occured to me. It seems like there are quite a lot of bloggers spending an inordinate amount of time defending their reasons for blogging, because like clockwork, someone else (ironically, usually a blogger) is pointing out all the potential downsides to blogging, or blog styles, or whatever.

While I don't read non-Christian blogs, and can't really address what non-Christian bloggers are writing about, or why, I sure can speak for many Christian bloggers.

We write because we love to write. More often than not, we write about our Lord, our kids, our struggles, our studies, jobs, doctrine, social ills & political climate. Life with Christ. Life viewed through a Christ-centered worldview. It's that simple.

Some Christian blogs are boring, others rock. Some are controversial, some soothe. The blog is a reflection of the blogger, and like all people, some we just click with, others we don't. Is it easy to get caught up in reading too many blogs and neglecting other reading? Sure it is, just like with any other online activity. Moderation - it's critical for a balanced home & spiritual life. That's the answer and there is no special tactic or formula for implementing it in your life. You just do it, and that's that. You turn off the screen, push your chair back, get up and walk away. On your way out of the room you can pick up that coffee mug, that hand towel sitting on the table, that toy, or book, and before you've even left the room, you've just begun investing your time away from blogging.

Pretty much the way I'm going to do, right now.

tags: Biblical Christianity, healthy blogging

To Him Be all Glory

I want to disclose something that I don't talk about very much. The only reason I need to reveal this, is to set the foundation for why God's hand of healing is so very real, and very active today.

I have a stomach condition and the doctors I've seen do not know what it is. The most significant symptom is sudden, painful stomach cramps. They come in waves, almost like labor contractions, and are just about as painful. I've had this since February of '04, and during the summer months, I have no symptoms at all. Beginning in the fall and lasting all the way through spring, I have this about once every 4-6 weeks, on average. I've had several tests done and the doctor simply does not know what it is - as he says all the tests are "normal". I've done a 'diet diary" and it doesn't matter what I eat, or even if I eat, before I have another "issue" with it. The few times I have spoken with others about this, I'm always surprised to hear that there are others who have this too. Likewise, their doctors don't have a diagnosis for them either, or simply chalk it up to "irritable bowel syndrome". Since mine started, I now know 5 other people who have the exact same symptoms. It seems like almost everyone knows someone else, that has something like this.

This past September, after going from May 13th with no issues at all, one evening I had another bout of this. Then again in October, and again in December. I've had 2 attacks this month, the first one on the 4th and the second one this afternoon. Almost every time, they last just about 2 hours, then slowly begin to dissipate.

I revealed all of that, because of what God did today. This part is going to be hard to type because I'm going to start crying again, but I have to share this. I need others to know how powerful His healing hand really is.

From 4pm until 5:30pm today my pain increased, with each "wave". I tried to walk it off, stretch, bend, etc - but none of that made any difference. So I did what I normally do and went upstairs to lay down and pray. Only the pain became so intense it was distracting me from praying. Kev came up and prayed with me at that point, and then had to run back downstairs to finish dinner. I was crying, and in the kind of pain that completely removes you from whatever is going on around you. Making it nearly-impossible to focus, or look outside your own current circumstances in any reasonable way.

I got up off the bed, got down on my knees, and with my face in the floor, began to pray "Lord, your grace is sufficient for me, even though it doesn't seem like it - even though I'm in so much pain, your hand is on me, and this, and your grace IS sufficient for me".

Friends, like a light switch, the pain was gone at that point. Not slowly fading away, not reduced cramping, but literally GONE. In a fraction of a second, as I confessed His majesty over me, my circumstances, and even my lack of understanding of how His grace IS sufficient for me, He showed me exactly how. He stopped the pain.

I remained there for a while and cried tears of gratitude, and thankfullness. When I came downstairs to tell Kev, I started crying all over again. Then he cried too.

This isn't the first time this has happened like this. There have been a few other times when the pain was so intense my mind drifts to thoughts of panic or incoherency, until He sovereignly guides me back to prayer. This is not the first time He's compelled me to get on my knees and praise Him, during this kind of pain. I know that might sound odd, but you'd have to understand how hard it IS to get in that position, when I'm having one of these attacks. It would be like asking a woman, delivering a baby, to do backflips. It's a very (physically) difficult thing to do, to get on my knees.

I decided to share all that for one reason, and one reason only. To glorify the Lord God Almighty, for all who read here. The more I have these attacks, the more I try hard to focus on Him, and pray through them. The more I do that, the quicker He stops them. Please don't read into that any kind of "God did THIS because I did THAT", that's not what this is about in any way. God does this because He's God, and He does what He does because it glorifies Him.

If it takes these painful attacks for Him to get my attention and bring me to my knees, then so be it. Oddly enough, I have a closer fellowship with Him in those times, than in my daily prayer time. I suspect you can all understand why.

See that graphic down there? To God be the glory. And amen.

tags: Biblical Christianity, God's healing hand, prayer

Help find this girl's family

Do you recognize this little girl? How about her jacket, does that look familiar to you in some way? It's a soft, white fleece jacket with hearts on it.

I was going to write about several other things today until I read the news. My heart broke for this little girl. The picture shown here is a computer composite of what she really looks like. From the news reports coming out of Vegas:

She's been dubbed "Jane Cordova Doe" after the name of the apartment complex where her body was found Jan. 12 a few miles east of the Las Vegas Strip. Pastor David Jimenez at Iglesia Pentecostal de Las Vegas said people are praying for her to be identified -- and for justice. Authorities said the girl was 3 or 4 years old, and that she died of blunt- force trauma. That means she might have been beaten to death.

Here's a more detailed description of this precious little girl:

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Abuse and Neglect investigators said the victim had black, curly, shoulder-length hair. The girl was wrapped in a blue blanket and wore a light blue sleeveless shirt, a white fleece jacket with red hearts on it, light purple jogging pants with yellow ties around the waist and ankles, and light pink, knit tights, according to "America's Most Wanted."

Someone killed this little girl, and left her little body in a trash bin. After 12 days of investigation, authorities still have not located her parents, or anyone that knows her. SOMEONE knows this little girl, and someone knows she's missing. Is that someone you?

I know I have quite a few readers in the desert-southwest. For all of you down there, please pass this on to your friends, family, co-workers, churches, etc. I'm asking you to please consider these options:

Linkback, trackback, copy this post, forward it, email it, whatever it takes to spread the word about this little girl. We all read about how negative the blogging community can be (or perceived to be), let's make an effort, together to find this girl's family, and her killer, and hopefully justice.



tags: Jane Cordova Doe, Unidentified girl Las Vegas

Conservatives & Groupies - quick thoughts

I wish I had time this morning to go into my thoughts about last night's election. I don't, but Scott (aka The Crusty One) covered it really well, right here. Plus, Tim already has an article up here, that you really should read. I'll try to find the time later today to share a perspective of a very patriotic American citizen, living in Canada during a rather historical election.

In other news, It would seem everyone's favorite PyroManiac is now just one match rolling around in the box of 5. Yes friends, it's true... Phil is now a groupie. Pyro-single is now Pyro-plural:








The time it took me to make those silly matches, could have been better spent actually going into my perspective of the election, but making the matches was more fun! So there ya go, proof of wasted time on blogging. More on that later, too.

A great homeschooling resource

See this neat looking thing? Ruth got this for Christmas, and it's one of the most handy little tools I've ever used. Granted, it seems very simplistic, but the colors, and the layout is just fantastic. There's also a teacher's guide in a handy little pocket in the back, complete with reproducible worksheets. Ruth is a little young for that yet, but she loves this! It includes: Alphabet, Animal ABC's, Colors, Farm Animals, First Words, Numbers 1 to 10, Nursery Rhymes, Opposites, Shapes and Wild Animals. These are flip-charts, put out by McGraw-Hill, and they have 9 different flip-charts, for various different grade levels:
Flip Charts - Animal Kingdom, Flip Charts - Botany, Flip Charts - Early Math, Flip Charts - Geometry, Flip Charts - Look and Learn, Flip Charts - Nursery Rhymes, Flip Charts - Our World, Flip Charts - Physical Science

You can read more about each of them here. (type in flip charts in the search box, or just click the seperate links above). I really enjoy finding a resource for homeschooling that really WORKS, and really helps. This is one of those resources.

tags: Biblical Christianity, homeschooling resources

The Impeccability of Christ

"Can you deny the impeccability of Christ, and still be a Christian?"

Now there's a loaded question, eh?

How about this one:

"Is believing the impeccability of Christ, a non-essential?"

Both are very leading questions. The very topic itself seems to draw fire from all sorts of folks.

I have my own thoughts on this, as you might have suspected. First, let's define impeccability. It simply means incapable of sin, or wrong doing. Impeccable = without spot or blemish, perfect.

I believe the Scriptures teach that it was not possible for Christ to have sinned. I believe in the impeccability of Christ.

I didn't always believe this though. When I was a newly converted to Christ, I heard a sermon that spoke of Jesus being tempted (Matthew 4) and later had it explained to me that it was possible that Jesus could have sinned, since the Devil was tempting Him. It was explained to me that the Bible teaches this, explicity in Hebrews 4:15. I didn't study it out, I just accepted it. (Always a bad move, never do that!) The logic made sense to me, at the time. If Jesus was tempted in all points like we are, then it had to be possible for Him to have been able to sin, even if He never did.

As time went by and I heard other Christians talk about this, I had some thoughts of my own that didn't seem to have any solid answers. For example, if Christ did not have a sin nature, like we do, how was it possible He "could have sinned" as I was taught that the Bible says? And if He was tempted, and had no sin nature that would have found anything in that temptation the least bit alluring, what was the point of the temptation?

Over time, and as I began to consider the importance of "discernment" in a Christian's life, I began questioning what I thought I knew. I questioned everything I'd ever heard from the pulpit. I recently read someone describe a time Francis Schaeffer did something similar, and he took off into the mountains to re-examine everything he thought he knew or believed.

Thankfully, I had people in my life at that time that held fest to the impeccability of Christ and when I questioned them, they pointed me to key verses and passages of Scripture that proved to me beyond all question, this position. The definition of "tempted" is critical in this subject. Christ's nature is critical, and is in fact central to the whole teaching. In fact, His nature is central to everything we believe. (1Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.)

As new believers, there is so much we simply do not know. Even after being saved for 10, 20, or 50 years, I have heard testimonies of men and women who say they are still learning, and still maturing in Christ. For this reason, I think it's a bit impatient of anyone to suggest a new believer, or young believer isn't "saved" because they're ignorant of some doctrines. Now I do have to add a disclaimer there, because there are some doctrines that cannot be seperated from the gospel initially presented - or then you have no gospel at all. If you add works to grace, or anyone to Jesus (adding "the church" to "Christ alone"), or leave anything out, such as His resurrection, or why He came in the first place, then I don't believe the true gospel was presented. Therefore, if a person hears a "partial-gospel" or a "padded-gospel" and believes it, I do have to question what, or who, exactly they've put their faith in. I've read countless testimonies of those who were converted to Christ long after they once heard a gospel message like this, and now confess that what they heard was indeed not the gospel.

Going back to the initial question that I read recently "Can you deny the impeccability of Christ, and still be a Christian?":

This implies to me that one has studied out both sides of this issue, and comes down against His impeccability. To deny it, one must first understand it. While you can certainly deny something out of sheer ignorance, your denial doesn't really mean much except that you're being willingly ignorant. Now I know that sounds mean and I don't mean for it too, but it's the truth. Denial based on ignorance doesn't really give you any credibility. However, if someone has thoroughly studied it out and in the end says "Christ had a sin nature and therefore could have sinned, even though He never did", then yes, I would indeed question their spiritual health. However, this really means nothing in the end, since I can't read men's hearts and know for certain if they are saved or not. I leave that with God. I can however know them by their fruits and chalk that person up to someone I would not recommend as a teacher or leader in any way.

The other question about Christ's impeccability being an essential, actually throws me. Essential to what? Essential to believe upon conversion? If this is what's meant, then when I was first converted to Christ that evening in April 1994, with tears streaming down my face and a heart filled with repentance, then I wasn't really converted. "The impeccability of Christ" was never mentioned when the gospel was given to me, and I'd never so much as heard that phrase in my 29 years on earth, prior to that day (that I am aware of, anyway). What I did hear, was that Christ died for sinners, and trusting in Him, and what He did on the cross, that He rose again after the 3rd day, and was the only way to the Father. I heard about forgiveness, mercy, grace, and that there is no other way, than Christ, and Christ alone. What I did not believe on Sunday morning, I suddenly did believe on Sunday night at that church service, and completely out of character for me, stood in front of around 200 people and confessed Christ as Lord. Hearing of His impeccability came later.

If what is meant by "essential" is that there are some parts of Scripture that are expendable, and can either be believed, or not believed, then no, there is no such thing as a NONessential when it comes to the Bible. We may not understand all of it, but we as redeemed people had better be prepared to confess that we do believe every word of it.

I think this is where growing in grace comes in. Some people call it progressive sanctification, others call it growing in holiness. I liken it to how a child grows and learns. Having seven kids, at ages from 2 to 23, I have daily reminders in my home of this. All seven of my kids, are my kids, and all seven of them are at various levels of social, academic and spiritual maturity levels. As with all analogies it obviously falls quite short, but it's still a good reminder for me.

If something else is meant by "essential", then I wouldn't even know how to address it. In our day and age it seems that words have various meanings, and what 1 person means when they say something, is not what 10 other people mean when they say it.

Just some thoughts on this topic today.

tags: Biblical Christianity, impeccability of Christ

Canadian churches: Under the influence?

From an email newsletter I subscribe to, from Lighthouse Trails & Research:

Canada Alert - New Age Influences in the Church

This should disturb you, and if nothing else, should be read with extreme discernment.

Twisting the Spear?

As some of my readers here already know, Jason Janz of Sharper Iron has come under fire for the position he's taken on the casting of this movie. It would seem, there's been a bit of an interesting development over the last couple of days. (you can read the full text of Jason's statements here)

According to a phone call Janz had with Mart Green (CEO of Every Tribe Entertainment) and Jim Hanon, the director of the film, a little detail has been cleared up.

When Mart Green was asked “Do you feel that what you did in casting a gay activist in this role was wrong?” he simply said "no".

When asked about the apparent discrepancy between Allen's version of the casting (he has stated in interviews that they (ETE) knew ahead of time of his gay lifestyle), and their version, they cleared it up by saying that they offered him the role without knowing of his gay lifestyle and activism, but went ahead and signed the contract with him after they knew.

Seeking further clarification, Jason asked of them both:

“If you were to do another movie just like “The End of the Spear” and you were fully aware of Allen’s activism, would you hire him?” Mart responded that he would like both Jim Hanon and himself to answer the question.

Jim Hanon said, “Yes.” And then I heard him say something like “We are going to open up the door to anyone who wants to act unlike you, Jason, who wants to be exclusive.” I asked Mart Green what he would do. He responded, “I would stand behind my director.”

So there you have it. Anyone who still thinks these were men who just simply hadn't done their homework prior to casting, can now rest assured that they knew exactly what they were doing, and would do it again. And find nothing wrong with it.

Jason's words:

"That’s it. We no longer have a company who was sloppy with their research and made an error in judgment. We have a film-making company that presents itself as Christian who sees absolutely nothing wrong with casting one of Hollywood’s most popular gay activists in the role of an evangelical missionary martyr. I told him that I believed he would lose the support of much of the evangelical community if they knew this. He disagreed. He mentioned that Jerry Falwell and Ted Haggard are behind the movie, as well as many others."

Jason is asking for 3 things as a result of this phone call:

Would you do the following?

1. Email this information to as many Christians as you know.
2. Email Mart Green and let him know how you feel – mgreen@everytribe.com.
3. Contact pro-family organizations and church leaders and ask them to contact Mart Green and express their concerns. Perhaps they can talk to him. From all I have read, Mart is a good Christian man with a desire to please the Lord.

Jason's closing comments on this:

"Some people have questioned my motivations in writing on this and continuing to write on it. I am doing so because I believe it is important. The loss of discernment is evident in all corners of evangelicalism, and there comes a time when people need to say something. I want to inform the Christian community of what I think is cause for concern. You will have to make your own decision as to what to do. "

I can't agree with Jason more than I do, on this. The loss of discernment he speaks of is evident in leaders (pastors, teachers, authors, etc.) as well as those who are under their authority. The attitude is basically "well if so-and-so endorses it, then I'm not going to question it!". Couple that with a lashing out at those who do question it (see the comments in any of my prior entries on this to see what I mean), and what you end up with is a lot of Christian apathy by those that don't even want to deal with it.

I've read in several places "I wonder what Elizabeth Elliot thinks of all this?". I don't know if she's been contacted, or if she's made any kind of a public statement about it. What doesn't shock me anymore, is that more and more it's becoming commonplace to read a well-respected Christian figure, endorse or support such things that Christians have no business being involved in, in the first place.

I'm with Jason on this one.



tags: Biblical Christianity, End of the Spear, godly discernment

Books and more books

After having spent the better part of the past week pretty heavily involved with discouraging, disheartening, controversial matters of doctrine & practice, I really needed refreshing. One of the best ways I know of to get that, is by reading things which edify, challenge, motivate and soothe a troubled spirit. Where do you find such things? In the Bible of course! :o)

Spending some time in Proverbs & the Psalms will bless your heart in ways you just can't replace with anything else.

In addition to the Scriptures, there are believers (here and in glory) that have also blessed us BIG TIME with some insights into practical Christian living, as well. To that end, I've added 16 new titles today over at Sovereign Grace Books. Authors include: Jay Adams, John MacArthur, Elisabeth Elliot, JC Ryle, Paul Tripp and James Ussher, just to name a few.

If you see a book there you've read, why not add a comment and let others know what you think of the book? I haven't read all the books I have listed there, but I'd sure like to, and I'd sure like to know how they've blessed others.

tags: Biblical Christianity, sovereign grace books

From My Inbox

I'm quite sure, if you're a blogger, you get a lot of email about your blog content, right? Some folks just don't like to make public comments but do wish to share their thoughts with you, about the topics you write about.

Well, I get emails like that too. Why look, here's one now (name withheld):

Thanks for reminding me why I left the evangelical church. You know the letter of the bible, but not the spirit of it. You are a modern day Pharisee, and unchristian in spirit when you, in your arrogance, seek to judge churches that do not fit within your narrow framework of understanding God. A Christian is one who is one inwardly, of the heart, not of the flesh....Yet, you will say "THAT'S UNBIBLICAL!!!" to such biblical principles.

So you see, this is what happens when you tip sacred cows. And this is one of the NICE ones, I assure you. I quite often say that not much shocks me anymore, but when I started getting emails like this from professing believers, that were also filled with profanity, I can honestly say I was shocked. At first. I'm just glad this individual chose to leave those kinds of words out of this message.

Some people really hate it when I post their words publicly, for all to see. Some have even insisted I not do that, even if I leave their name off of it. Some have strange ideas about things. The way I see it, if you have the courage to send it privately (in these cases, where they are nasty and judgemental) then you certainly shouldn't have any problem with my airing of them publicly, as well. (I generally do leave out names & email addresses - no one will know who it is, except the person themselves & whoever they've told, of course). Unless... of course... it's okay to be rude, crude, and socially snarky in private, as long as no one knows you're really like that in public. Naw... I don't buy it. It might be cliche', but the old saying rings so true to me:

"What kind of Christian are you, when no one else is looking?"

I get blamed a lot for being the reason people have left evangelical churches. Unbelievable, I know, but it's true. You see, it's people JUST like me that have shipwrecked the faith of so many people, that they were forced out of the church and into "alternative spiritual journeys", which may or may not include the deli-style Christianity du jour. Yep, it's me, it's all my fault. Well, me and people like me, that have the nerve to take a closer look at what's passing for Christianity these days, and say "whoa, that's not right". How dare I line up these things with what the Bible says? I know, some nerve, eh? And how DARE I write about it, and ask questions about it, and point back to Scripture about it? Hmm...

All sarcasm aside, this is really pathetic. When you begin to blame someone, or something, for your spiritual condition, you're already on dangerous ground. Yes, other people's words DO have an effect on folks, and it's important to remember that. At the same time, we are not going to stand before the Lord one day and get a free pass for our spiritual state because we say "I tried to be a good Christian, but it was Bill, and Mary, and Frank and Carla that messed me up, so it's all their fault, Lord!". Nope, it will not happen that way. We each stand accountable to the Lord on our own.

See, this person has (without ever meeting me, or speaking to me, or even asking a single question as to why I believe what I believe) has already determined that I am

a.) of the ilk that forced exit from the evangelical church he was once in
b.) do not know the spirit of the law
c.) a modern day Pharisee
d.) unchristian
e.) arrogant
j.) judgemental
h.) narrowminded

I will agree that I am narrowminded. Big time. We have a mandate in Scripture on how we are to act, think, worship, live and speak. Every one of us fall short in all of those areas, but the standard of the Lord STILL STANDS, and is not to be altered, dabbled with, added to or taken away from. God's holy standard should be our holy standard, and that which we strive for every moment of our lives. Being a Christian is about living to please GOD, not entertaining ourselves and others with the trend of the times, or bringing in unBiblical worship styles or spiritual disciplines. Remember Nadab & Abihu? How impressed was God with their strange fire? How dare we, His redeemed people, mess with His holy standard then make excuses for it?

All those other accusations made about my character? Well, I suppose at times each of them are actually true. However, this is certainly not what I strive for, nor what I try to get across in the things I write, or speak of. These are things to be avoided, and be in prayer about, if they affect you as a believer. The irony here however, is that while I constantly attempt to focus on the issues (rituals, doctrine, trends, etc.) folks like this take it to a personal level and lob the ad homs at the messenger. It happens ALL the time. I suspect there are several reasons for this, but usually the root of it is that these folks don't adhere to Sola Scriptura, so they don't bother defending their rituals and practices with Scripture. They can't, because it's not there. All they've got left, is emotion and opinion. And they fire away with both barrels.

I genuinely find that sad, especially if they are truly regenerated individuals.

I know I'm not "right" about everything, and I don't pretend to be. If someone asks me something about doctrine that I don't know the answer to, my answer is, "I don't know, but I bet we can find it in the Bible". I don't know all there is to know about Christian living, either. I've only been a Christian for 11 years, I'd need to live another 1,000 at least, to be any kind of authority on practical Christian living.

In a sense, that's my whole point in writing this tonight. We do have an authority, and it's not feelings, or opinion, or experience. It's not reached by consensus, or what's selling the best this quarter at the local Christian bookstore. Our authority is the written word of God. His word is the final say in how we worship, what we teach, what we are to avoid, how to pray, live, think, speak, and raise our kids. Sola Scriptura means, we take ALL we have to Scripture, and line it up. If it measures up, then He is pleased. If it does not, we need to humble ourselves before Him and repent of it, and then get rid of it - no matter what it is. Lashing out at those that point this out, is about as productive as pouring your coffee into a mug with no bottom.

I'll close with this (emphasis mine):

Sola Scriptura

The Scriptures are the only and all–sufficient rule of both faith and practice. This stands in contrast to other historic criteria such as religious tradition, ecclesiastical authority, creeds, church councils, rationalism, and modern religious irrationalism which often stresses experience and emotionalism above the Word of God inscripturated. (read more here)

tags: Biblical Christianity

Email Reflections

I've seen this option at a few different blogs, and thought it might be useful here as well. It's simple - to get the blog updates via email, just sign up over there in the sidebar. That's all there is to it. If at any time you no longer wish to receive updates, you can just nuke it off your list.

tags: Biblical Christianity, blogging

New age acceptance & endorsements

Below is the post I mistakenly published (instead of saving to draft) a couple of days ago. In fairness to Tim Keller, whom I attempted to contact via his church email contact, I wanted to give him a chance to explain his endorsement, before I published this. I did email the contact person at his church, but received no reply. I'm sure they are very busy people and have just not had a chance to respond yet. Nothing I am posting here is not already public information, so if Keller would like to respond publicly in the comments or privately via email, that would be welcome.
__________________

This was an email response I sent to several people:


I'm bringing this to your attention, as I believe it's something that warrants a closer look.

re: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook Practices That Transform Us By Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

A friend of mine told me via an email, about this book today and I took a look at the author, content, and who's endorsed it.

Namely, Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC: "I have long profited from Adele Ahlberg Calhoun's gifts in the field of spiritual development, and I am delighted that she has compiled her experience with spiritual disciplines into book form. I highly recommend it and I look forward to using it as a resource at our church."

And Ruth Haley-Barton: "I love this book! Adele has provided a treasure trove of spiritual disciplines that will nourish your soul, striking a delicate balance between accessibility and depth that comes from her own faithful practice. Read it, engage the disciplines, and allow God to transform you in the deepest levels of your being."—Ruth Haley Barton, cofounder, The Transforming Center, and author of Sacred Rhythms and Invitation to Solitude and Silence

Below was my response:


This book is a waste of paper, and I can say that without ever reading it.

About the author: Adele Ahlberg Calhoun (M.A., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) has worked in Christian ministry for over thirty years and is currently pastor of spiritual formation at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois.

A well respected PCA pastor like Tim Keller is endorsing a book (along with Ruth Haley-Barton?) on new age/old age eastern mystic ritual, and looking forward to employing these practices in his church?? Written by a woman pastor? What exactly does that mean, "I look forward to using it as a resource at our church"? Why is this book being recommended by a Christian pastor? I don't know, but I'd like to hear a Biblically supported answer.

Look at this excerpt from the book:
http://www.ivpress.com/title/exc/3330-Contempl.pdf

Scroll down to page 2 on Spiritual Exercises.

In case it's not readable for you, this is a step-by-step procedure teaching Christians how to:

1. practice visualization techniques (eastern mysticism)

2. assume the physical position of meditation (eastern mysticism)

3. follow the breathing techniques of meditation (eastern mysticism)

4. focus on the message received in the solitude (more eastern mysticism)

Defenders of this practice will say that it's "okay" because you're focusing on Jesus. However, you will never find a shred of Biblical support for adopting pagan religious rituals, and whitewashing them to appeal to God. If we are to worship Him in spirit and in truth, it is impossible to worship Him via the techniques promoted by those who do not know Him, and do not worship Him in spirit or in truth.

Look closely at this statement from the interview with the author:

"Spiritual disciplines are ways we cooperate with the Holy Spirit for the sort of deep down long-term transformation that seems to elude us. A spiritual discipline is a way to clear some space in our life for God to show up. Disciplines and practices alone cannot transform. They are simply ways we hold the sail of our life before the breath of the Spirit of God. We hold the sail and wait for the transforming Wind."

More eastern mystic ritual/language.

Then this:

IVP: How did spiritual disciplines develop in your life, and
what do they mean to you?

Calhoun: My parents taught me spiritual disciplines from the time I was small. I memorized prayers and listened to Bible stories and memorized Scripture like some generic capsule that would help me know God. And all these things did help me know God. But as I grew up I realized there was more than a one-size-fits-all program for spiritual growth. I was introduced to practices like conversational prayer, prayer lists, journaling and inductive Bible study. This was just the beginning. Over time I found there were all sorts of ways for making space in my life for God. Furthermore, spiritual exercises seemed to ebb and flow through my life depending on my circumstances and longings. One season might be devoted to "control of my tongue" and another season devoted to speaking my mind by "truth telling." One season might have me praying the prayer of suffering and another season settling into breath prayer. Spiritual disciplines are a gift that have led me deeper into a God who is way beyond my knowing. And this God invites me into himself through a variety of spiritual practices.

Unbelievable how fast this is picking up steam in evangelical circles.

I'm going to send this info to others - and I hope they are as concerned as I am, this is craziness.

(Note: the purpose for this post is two-fold. 1. To provide information to people that may not be aware of what is being promoted, and by whom, and 2. in hopes of persuading those who may be into this sort of thing, to genuinely reconsider what it is, they're practicing, and promoting.)

tags: new age, ecumenism, Biblical Christianity

Famous people born on January 21

1337 Charles V, the Wise, king of France, 1364-80
1743 John Fitch, inventor, had a working steamboat years before Fulton
1759 Johan Valckenaer, Dutch politician/patriot
1792 Tsjalling Hiddes Halbertsma, Fries story teller, Rhymes and Tales
1824 Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, Lieutenant General 2nd Corps, ANV, Confed
1887 Wolfgang Kohler, Ger/US Gestalt psychologist, Mentality of Apes
1897 J Carrol Naish, New York City, actor, Charlie Chan-Adv of Charlie Chan
1915 Alan Hewitt, New York City, actor, Det Brennan-My Favorite Martian
1924 Benny Hill, born in Southampton, England, comedian, Benny Hill Show
1926 Steve Reeves, Glasgow Montana, actor, Hercules, Hercules Unchained
1939 Wolfman Jack, [Bob Smith], born in Brooklyn, New York, DJ, Midnight Special
1941 Richie Havens, Brooklyn, folk singer, Here Comes the Sun

And the most famous person of all born on January 21:

1941 My Mommy! (aka Estella), Washington, super-mom, standup comic, zoo-keeper, nurse, taxi driver, librarian, financial advisor, patriot, psychologist, advocate, fashion plate & all around professional!

{{{{{{{{{{{{ MOM }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to youuuuuu, happy birrrrrrrrrrthday dear mothhhhhhhhher, haaaaaaaappy birthday to youuuuuuuuuu!

:o)

Love Always,

your favorite daughter (Nooo, not Lora!)

On being an encouragment

I suppose it could be due in part to my personality.
I suppose it could also be due in part to once having been decieved by a false teaching.

Either way, whenever I see or hear something that is wrong, Biblically, it's just not within me to say nothing, write nothing, or do nothing. I've tried, and I just can't do it.

With that said, and as bizarre as it will sound, I have a strong dislike for controversy as well. If it were possible, I'd avoid it 100% of the time.

Last night in a chat room someone made a statement about men in the church that engage in apologetics. He said they must have a thick skin to be involved in that day in and day out, without getting exhausted. I would have to agree - since those who are in the forefront for standing for the truth, are the ones who get the most resistance and the most criticism. I'm not sure though, that I'd call it thick skin as much as I'd assume it was being very focused on the topic itself, and being diligent to present to the truth for the glory of God.

In any case, I wanted to post another public thank you to the folks who have left encouraging comments on this blog over the last few days. You really do make a difference, believe it or not. While I sure don't put myself in the category of a polished apologist, or a refined public speaker, your support and encouragment is most appreciated.

One of the other chatters in the room last night said "there really isn't a lot of encouragement out there", and he's right. So for those of you that do take the time to be an encouragement, my hat is off to you.

tags: Biblical Christianity, encouragement

Some thank you's

With all the buzz surrounding other topics, I just wanted to express a great big THANK YOU to my readers, in regards to all your ideas, recommendations, and encouragment on the homeschool math issue I posted about recently. I didn't want to post this in the comments, because I wanted to make sure you all saw it, and it didn't get lost. (And yes Kim, I'd love to borrow your math rods, thank you so much for the offer!)

Another thank you and hat tip goes to Rebecca. You know Rebecca, she's the brilliant lady behind the recent Out of Canada Blog Showcase, and the heart behind Rebecca Writes. Of the blog entries in the Canadian blog showcase, Rebecca had a draw for winners of some beautiful Canadian calendars, and I won one today! Yay for me, and double yay for Rebecca for showcasing some really great blogs.

And one more thing to bring to your attention. If you're anywhere near St.Pete Florida, there's a pretty interesting looking exhibit down there until May 14th. Here are the details:

Ink & Blood: Sacred Treasures of the Bible
(check out the article in USA TODAY)
is at the Florida International Museum, 244 Second Ave. North in St. Petersburg, through May 14; http://www.inkandblood.com or (877) 332-4253.
Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sundays, noon-6 p.m. Adults, $16; seniors and those in the military, $14; students, $9; children 6 and under, free.

tags: Biblical Christianity, homeschool math, Bible exhibit, Out of Canada Blog Showcase

End of the Spear Shame - Further thoughts

It isn't very often that I will take a comment from one of the entry threads, and create an entire post around it. Sometimes though, such comments deserve more attention than others. Such is the case with Lori G.'s comment to End of the Spear Shame. Hers is exactly the sort of reaction that taking a stand for what the Scriptures actually teach, instead of taking a stand on how we feel, will generate.

Lori's statements in italics:

It seems that for you to be able to write so boldly about this matter that you must, yourself, be without faults.I do not agree with the gay lifestyle. My hubby is a minister and we are a very conservative family.

The logic in this seems odd, at best. Lori asserts that if a believer speaks bodly against something, that they must be without fault. I can't help but wonder if Lori's husband, who is a minister, speaks boldly when he preaches from the Scriptures. I would certainly hope that the answer is yes, and that he declares the truth from the word of God without compromise in any way. At the same time, according to Lori's logic, if he does this, he himself must be without fault. I don't know Lori, or her husband, but I do know the fallen nature of the human family, and can say without question each and every one of us is indeed with-fault. Does that preclude us from declaring the truths of Scripture? In no way! The very same standard that we might hold others to, we ourselves are held to. No matter what we're writing about, preaching about, lecturing on, etc. No matter if it's sexual purity, Godliness in business, raising children in the ways of the Lord - no matter the subject.

I do not know whether or not we will see this movie just because we generally do not go to the movies. However, I am concerned with the hateful tone in your post. I guess you will no longer go to the grocery store to get your food, because gay people work at stores and they also serve alchohol. I guess you will no longer go out to buy your clothes because gay and sinful people are out at malls. I guess you should no longer feel like going to church either, after all, church is a hospital for sinners, and we know that they would not be welcomed in your presence, so it seems.

It is astounding to me (although it shouldn't astound me, this is becoming more and more commonplace among professing believers) that conviction is traded in for hate. Do I hate sinners? Of course not. Do I hate sin? Absolutely I hate sin. I loathe it, and I loathe it in myself, in my husband, in my children, my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and anywhere else it's found. I hate what it's done to humanity, and I hate that it exists, period.

To make the leap that I will no longer buy groceries, clothes, etc., because there are sinners in those places, is simply ludicrous and an emotional argument at best. By this logic, I'd have to move to a cave, by myself, and stay there until the Lord takes me home. No... wait, that won't work either because I also am a sinner, and I can't live with me either, if I'm going to detach myself from sinners. I guess that would leave me in a rather precarious quandry, would it not?

There is a world of difference between calling this casting decision into question, and being so far out in Fred-Phelps-field, that you can't see the forest for the trees. Or more accurately, thinking so highly of one's one spiritual state that you can't be bothered to taint yourself by the presence of other, less refined sinners.

Sin, and sinners, are everywhere. They are in my home, my church, my local grocery store, my husband's workplace, your workplace, your home and your church, and every place of business that you frequent as well. The difference here, is whether we tolerate sin, and make excuses for it, and/or whether we speak against it and hold ourselves and others to the standard of Holy Scripture. What has taken place here, with the defense of casting a pro-homosexual activist in the role of a Christian missionary, is a flat out tolerance for his lifestyle, and his political activism. Those of us who have spoken out against that, have become the intolerant, the narrowminded, hateful, hard-hearted. The more professing believers that continue to excuse away sinful lifestyles, the more narrowminded the rest of us become.

We have become the enemy, of our own brothers and sisters, while the lost, living in sin, promoting sin, have become the "enemy of my enemy is my friend". Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture?

I will pray for you and the hardness of your heart.

The classic assigning of "spiritual state". i.e., "you just spoke against something with language I'm uncomfortable with, therefore your heart is hard!"

Do not pray for the hardness of my heart Lori, pray that the ones you're defending, would hear the gospel and repent of their sinful lifestyles. Pray that those of us speaking against it would be given the grace and wisdom in these attacks on our stand, to respond with a Biblical response, and that God would be glorified. Pray for those that do speak the truth boldly, that they would be enabled to be an effective tool for the Lord.

Who know what effect this movie has had on this actor and the gay community he is a part of. This could very well be God ordained. Who are we to judge?

We cannot possibly know what affect this movie will have on the gay community. We can suspect that since Chad Allen is in it, homosexuals who are fans of his, will likely see it. Will they hear the gospel & repent? Not in the movie, they will not hear the gospel. From all accounts the gospel is not clearly layed out in the movie - the focus is relationships & strong emotions, not the gospel. Is it possible that they might see this movie, be moved to discuss it, moved to seek out Christians to ask questions about it, and then hear the gospel at some point, and be converted to Christ? Sure, it's possible, and if it happens then PRAISE GOD.

However, if the Lord did ordain this movie, regardless of the inexcusable casting decision, to be the catalyst that compels even one man to hear the gospel and repent, the casting decision and the slap in the face it is to Christian missions work, and the gospel itself, still has no defense. We have a strange tendency among us to exalt the vehicle rather than exalt the Lord and His providence. If He used a prostitute to compel a young man to eventually hear the gospel and come to Christ, would we praise the prostitute, or praise the Lord that in His infinite wisdom and glory, all things worked according to HIS purpose, and a lost sinner was brought into the family of God? Sadly, in this age of modern Christendom, many would praise the prostitute, and take the position of "touch not what I have decided is annointed".

And Lori's final comment:

Who are we to judge?

We are a people called out, sanctified, and called to use Biblical discernment on these matters. Called to judge righteous judgement.

We are called to judge

Greek: krino =
• determine
• call into question
• to be of opinion
• deem
• think

righteous

Greek: dikaios =
• just
• right
• meet
• virtuous
• keeping the commands of God
• approved of or acceptable of God

judgement

Greek: krisis =

• a seperating
• selection
• opinion or decision given concerning anything concerning justice and injustice, right or wrong

This is who we are, to judge. We're expected to judge (form our opinions) according to God's holy standard, and make those decisions (judgements) based on His righteousness, and not our feelings, or whatever might be socially acceptable, or tolerated within churches.

And with that said, I am exhausted with this topic. The movie comes out today, and more of the MSM media has picked up on the "controversy" among Christians on this. The very fact that there IS controversy among believers is telling, all by itself. Telling, in that what we have lowered the standard to, is grievous.



tags: End of the Spear, tolerance, Biblical Christianity

Blogging in haste - woops

This evening I drafted a blog entry and instead of hitting DRAFT, like I should have, I hit PUBLISH. In case you read this blog via subscription, I thought I'd offer the explaination as to why it's no longer here. I may, or may not choose to repost this draft, at a later date.

Kids, math & computers...

I could really use your help today.

Our 8 yr old struggles with memorizing her math facts. The basic addition and subtraction tables, 0-10. I mean really struggles, as in... turns glassy eyed and detaches almost every time it's math lessons time.

I've browsed the web and found quite a few interactive math-games-type-sites, but I wonder if your kids use things like that? If they do, which one is hands down THE best site for your kids? Did it really help them?

I'm weird when it comes to computers and homeschooling. I have a strong conviction that until little kids learn the basics, using the hands-on approach (reading a book in their hands, spelling a word manually, with a pencil, and erasing it when it's wrong), then they really shouldn't be at the pc, doing that kind of work. Maybe it's just me - but it seems like they're being cheated if they're not doing the work themselves, but letting the pc do it for them.

In any event, I'm looking for your feedback on this. I'd like to sit Jordan down here for 15 minutes a day, and let her use one of these math games, but I want your input first, on the programs that actually make a difference in learning.

Any takers?

tags: homeschooling, math, educational games

Brilliant Ideas

I only have 1 thing to say right now.

When the Belgians decided to get into the chocolatier business, and refined the process of manufacturing chocolate, it was a beautiful thing.

That is all...

tags: belgian chocolate

Contending for the faith

In the past week or so, I've not only shared my thoughts on the casting of Chad Allen in End of the Spear here at this blog, but I've also been a minor (very minor) contributor to the discussion at the Sharper Iron forum. Last night, I had the opportunity to discuss this with a brother in private messaging, and then later read this:

"I have received some email today saying that I am intolerant and rude. If stating my case bluntly is taken as rude, so be it. Further, I want to be known as intolerant on this issue. I don't believe in giving an inch to the cause of homosexuality." (Alan Kurschner, posted here)

I have said before and will say it again, this way:

If the actor cast for this role was a child abuser, and was a member in good standing with national pro-child abuse groups, speaking at pro-child abuse functions about the joy of it all, and how 'the rest of us' should really get on board with accepting it and even embracing it ourselves if we felt inclinded - as well as going on nationally televised tv programs such as Larry King Live, to further promote his child abuse - would Christians still take the same position on the whole issue that they do now?

Sadly, I'm afraid that many Christians would indeed still be accepting of this casting decision. However, my point is this: the pro-gay agenda is quite literally being shoved in the face of society, and due to that, our culture (and this certainly includes our Christian culture as well) has become tolerant of it. Cause and effect.

Later I read this at triablogue:

Question: Can someone affirm both of these statements at the same time?

1) Homosexuality is an abomination to God
2) Homosexuals are acceptable in Christian films

To which I answered this way:

A: apparently yes, based on the arguments so far. However, if one is consistant, then the answer must be no.

Phil commented on this today and made this statement, that really puts things into perspective:

"It disturbs me that even while they are ratcheting up their ongoing campaign against everything righteous, Hollywood moguls want to exploit evangelicals. It disturbs me even more that so many evangelicals seem blithely willing—almost eager, in fact—to be exploited."

For a very good example of how this is literally being forced on society, look below at these quotes taken from The Weekly Standard magazine, regarding a pro-gay/lesbian campaign from Soulforce, an organization of a "militant gay" activist, being planned for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

"On April 17, 2006, when the White House lawn is opened to families for the Annual Easter Egg Roll, imagine if the first 1,000 families onto the lawn were LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] families," enthused a January 4 email alert from Soulforce. Once America sees the White House lawn awash in LGBT families, "there will be no going back," Soulforce promised. Soulforce is the political organizing tool of self-described "militant gay activist" Mel White, the former Jerry Falwell speech writer who discovered his gayness and became a clergyman in the predominantly homosexual Metropolitan Community Churches."

And this:

"Soulforce went on to promise: "This event will be like nothing anyone has ever seen before. The White House lawn--the Bush [italics in original] White House lawn--will, quite unexpectedly, be filled with gay and lesbian families. This is something people will be talking about for a long time, an event that will make history!" According to Soulforce, "It is time to claim our place at the table. Come to our nation's capital and let America see who we really are." Less any of its supporters be lacking in enthusiasm, the email promised: "It is basically going to be the biggest LGBT family party ever, you and your kids will have a great time." Recipients of the Soulforce email were asked to be "discreet" and not to post the information on websites because the "success of this action depends on keeping it under the radar of the media and the administration!!!"

I cannot help but re-consider Phil's statement about how evangelicals seem almost eager to be exploited. It's the whole attitude issue - the willingness to defend something that is indefensable. The willingness to tolerate something that is intolerable.

This isn't about being "anti-gay" this is about being anti-sin, period. So before anyone jumps onto that platform, consider these words posted by Libbie:

"Whatever rational excuses you may be able to provide for an unrepentant homosexual playing a faithful christian, in a story which is supposed to be about the power of the gospel, whatever compassionate sounding passages you may write about the fairness of giving marriage priveleges to any two humans that say they want them, regardless of gender, you are butting up against Divine law.The Law of God is not just for believers, and the notion from some Christians that it is, is ridiculous. If the law of God was only relevant for believers, then on what basis would we become believers? How can we transgress a law that we are not held to? Why would we need to fear an adverse judgement by an irrelevant law? God's law is THE law - the one by which all humans are judged. To cosset unbelievers in their sins is to do them a great dis-service, and to dishonour God, whose standards don't go up and down relative to our belief in His word."

Libbie titled that post "When wrong is wrong, and culture is irrelevant".
I couldn't have said it better myself.


tags: tolerance, End of the Spear, Contending for the faith

Pin the tail on the bad guy...

I'm finding a rather unsettling trend emerging. You'll forgive me for my use of that word, in light of modern Christendom.

If you:

• point out the inconsistancies between the EC doctrines and the genuine historic faith of Christianity, you're the bad guy.

• voice your concerns with the growing acceptance of repugnant ecumenism, you're the bad guy

• make an honest statement regarding the incompatability between charismata, and sola Scriptura, you're the bad guy

• raise your voice in disapproval of the casting of a pro-gay activist in the role of a Christian missionary, in an upcoming movie, you my friend, are the bad guy

Do you see the trend too?
What's the one common denominator in all of the above scenarios?

Unity, tolerance, acceptance, etc.

Do not dare rock the boat Mr. or Mrs. Bad Guy, you'll be sorry if you do. Your character will be scrutinized, slandered, maligned and more. Your words will be twisted, your motives questioned and your intentions ignored. The point you may have attempted to make in the first place, will be lost.

Do you believe any of that?

Well, I wrote that partially tongue in cheek. But only partially, I assure you.

It seems bizarre to me that conservative believers would even find themselves in the defensive position with other believers, but that certainly is the case, in all the above examples. I'm sure there are a million and one reasons for all this, but at the end of the day, I find myself thinking the very thing I said to a brother today:

"that we're even arguing this, is unthinkable".

And yet, here we are, arguing for sound Biblical doctrine & Biblical principle, with other believers. Ijust find it surreal.


tags: doctrine, ecumenism, religious tolerance

Just 4 Fun

New shop, new designs...@ Just 4 Fun

(hat tip to Kim for the idea for "Mom Likes ME Best!")

tags: fun, w00t, Christian Apparel

Minding my business

I have a lot on my mind this morning... even started one post and immediately sent it to the drafters. Maybe I'll finish it another time, maybe I'll just delete it. Dunno, for now it's on hold.

So instead of that, and despite the fact that there are so many people out there with rabid opinions about people like me, who (in their minds) sell out and make a profit off the gospel (do not get me started on that topic), I'm just going to tell you that I did a redesign at my store and now have this to offer (if you enjoy these kinds of products, you'll like this - if you loathe these kinds of products, just ignore it, and we'll all do a group hug later on today):

5 Solas White T $10.99 (the 5Solas full line of products is here)

Yesterday I had an inquiry about a custom order (5 solas on the front, church logo on the back), and just to let you know, YES I take custom orders and will be happy to work with you, on that. If you're interested in something like that, just drop me a note here and let me know.




tags: Christian t-shirts, 5 solas

Changes

Over the last several months, Kev and I have been having an ongoing discussion about something that affects our entire family. It's been a struggle to make a firm decision one way or another, and we've gone back and forth between one thing and the other. (In case you're wondering, the issue is NOT about having another child, thank you very much).

Last night this conversation came up again, and we finally both agreed on more points than we were unsure about (we've never really disagreed, we just didn't have a clear position on this).

The issue I'm referring to, is switching churches.

None of the reasons for doing this have been easy to work through, and all of the reasons for wanting to do this, are founded in being in obedience to the word as it pertains to being under solid, Biblical teaching.

With our pastor resigning late last fall (for various reasons, other than his medical condition at the time), this just added another issue to the conversation.

I'll spare you all the details (for changing churches in the first place), but I would ask that you might keep us in prayer about this situation. There are a lot of changes coming up in a couple of weeks with Kev's work schedule, which will afford him every weekend off (instead of every other weekend), and this is very good in regards to being in church every Sunday. It's also bad since the church we hope to return to is 45 minutes away. This means more in gas, and Kev's new schedule shaves 2 hours off every paycheck. In other words we're going to lose money and have an extra expense, to travel to church.

We've struggled a bit with this, but we believe it's more than worth it, to be under (and have our kids too) solid teaching and preaching.

It's been difficult to commit to this, for a variety of personal & practical reasons, but last night both of us sensed a certainty about this decision, that just wasn't there before. We've both prayed a lot about this, and today spoke to the kids about it as well.

There is a peace and an assurance now, that I guess in restrospect, we've all been waiting on all along.

So we would just appreciate your support in prayer over this.

tags: church, family, prayer

Tagging Categories

Since blogspot doesn't have categories yet, I thought I'd try using technorati tags, to categorize my posts here. You can go here to read more about these tags. I'm undecided if it will be of any real benefit, in the way I'd like, but we'll see. If you'd like to add technorati tags to your posts like this, it's pretty simple.

Login to your blogger dashboard and go to the settings tab, then the formatting tab. Scroll down to post template at the bottom, and include this html code:



Be sure to click "save" for this settings. The next time you click "create" for a new entry, this tag will already be in the body of your entry. More on preformatting your post editor here.

In place of [tagname], just enter the topic of your post. Be sure to do that in both places in the html code. You can add as many tags as you like, to describe the category of your post.

tags: tech stuff, weblog, tagging, religion

Sharper Iron Updates re: Movie

Due to the response so far, Greg Linscott at Sharper Iron has an update to Jason Janz' previous article on End of the Spear.

Included in this update is a condensed version suitable for distribution in churches, and a pdf file for printing for your pastor. I would highly recommend you visit the update.

End of the Spear Shame

I'm fairly certain that I'm not about to say anything that hasn't already been said about this controversial film. However, I'm going to say it anyway because quite frankly it simply BURNS ME UP. Which part burns me up? Well... many.

First of all, there are some less than honest people associated with the film project itself.

Today at Sharper Iron, one of the forum participants posted an excerpt of the email he received from Jim Hanon, writer and director of End of the Spear. Hanon states in his email:

"End of the Spear is not about Chad Allen"

And yet, the pro-gay magazine The Advocate says something completely different:

"Allen went into his first meeting with the film's producers and director with real trepidation that they and the Saint family-for whom, he stresses, he had great respect would not want a gay man representing their legacy. After he aired his concern, however, the filmmakers produced, of all things, the November 25, 2003, issue of The Advocate with Allen on the cover, in which the actor spoke of his faith and the importance of doing good works for the holidays. They had showed that issue to Steve Saint, the filmmakers told Allen. "And this man Steve Saint said that the same things that I talked about in The Advocate are the same things he fought his whole life for," Allen beams" (source)

Unfortunately, when this man was cast for this role, this movie DID become about Chad Allen. Not only did it become about Allen, it would appear that it was done intentionally, with full disclosure. He was purposely, and intentionally selected for this role. Knowing full well that he is a homosexual man with strong ties in the pro-gay activist lifestyle.

Did these film project folks honestly think that Christians would not be (rightfully) upset by this? Of course not, they are professionals and they know what works when it comes to marketing. The plot of this film may not be about Chad Allen, the homosexual actor/activist, but the fact that they cast Allen in this film is quickly becoming what this film represents. And the actual story is getting lost. (Did the project associates consider this when they cast him? I can't believe they didn't consider this, and cast him anyway).

For further proof of this nonsense, Jason at Sharper Iron shares this:

Every Tribe Entertainment refuses to admit that the choice of Chad Allen was a mistake.

Every Tribe Entertainment is a new movie company that has as it’s mission, “To create quality entertainment for a broad audience that inspires hope through truth.” It was founded by Mart Green, founder of the Mardel Christian and Educational Supply chain. When confronted about the issue of Allen being in the film in a leading role, he told Christian Retailing Magazine that he did not believe that Allen being in the movie will “present a problem for Christian viewers.” He said, "After someone told me that Chad appeared on the cover of the gay and lesbian magazine The Advocate, we just felt, 'Hey, he's still the best actor.' If anything, he was more concerned when he found that we found out -- not that he has been hiding his sexuality.” He’s “available to tell our story of faith and forgiveness in the best way possible…Our position is we’re making quality films that tell faith-based stories, so we hire the best.” 17

There are many more issues associated with this film that should indeed be a great concern to Christians. I have not yet seen it (and honestly, do not plan to, now), but from almost all accounts, the gospel message is glaringly absent. It's impossible for this to be a "Christian film" and not have the gospel message there. That's like ordering a pizza and getting a pile of cheese and a few slices of pepperoni. If the gospel is missing, it's just another touchy-feely, warm-fuzzy movie about human relationships.

Another issue that I've noticed folks bringing up, is that Nate Saint himself approved of the selection of Chad Allen. Please don't misunderstand this, but why are people so shocked that a professing believer has approved of this? Look around people, compromise is EVERYWHERE! If you think I'm overreacting, you've been hiding your head in the sand, big time. Standing on your convictions is all well and good until you go against the majority, then you're being a silly, emotional, overreacting fundamentalist that can't see the bigger picture here. Unity on common ground seems to be the order of the day. Re-read this quote from The Advocate:

"And this man Steve Saint said that the same things that I talked about in The Advocate are the same things he fought his whole life for," Allen beams"

One of the other things that I cannot help but notice, is the attitude of those Christians towards those who do have serious issues with this movie. Can you say Passion of the Christ? Can you say 'greatest evangelical tool since the Bible? Can you say de ja vue all over again? I knew you could...

Those who are taking issue with this movie, are being condescended toward by those who are for it, and mocked, belittled, and/or cast off as legalists, narrow minded, unlearned, and all sorts of other insulting labels. I've even seen the exact same comments made already:

"how can you condemn this movie, have you even seen it yet!?"

Give me an extremely large break. That question was ridiculous 2 years ago when it came to the Passion, and it's just as ridiculous today. If those asking this question were consistant in their logic, then they'd better be out there viewing EVERY film that comes along, including all the x-rated filth. If not, they have no leg to stand on when they ask this question.

It doesn't take much logic to conclude that you do not have to view every film that comes along, to made an educated decision about the content of the film. There are many ways to come to this kind of decision, not the least of which include the many resources available now on the web, that go into great amounts of detail on the cast, characters, content (violence, swearing, nudity, etc.), plot, etc. Discerning Christians actually use these tools to make good choices for themselves and their families, and when they DO, these yahoos come along and get all fired up because "you haven't even SEEN it, you don't know what you're talking about!". Good grief.

One of the other comments I've seen that mirrors The Passion:

"you're missing the bigger picture, think about how many people might be drawn to Christ because of this movie!".

Oh don't get me started on modern evangelical styles like this. Like The Passion, from all accounts, the gospel message is non-existant in this movie. If there is no gospel message, what are people going to be drawn to? Touching scenes of forgiveness, pain, and sorrow? I saw that in Man on Fire, so I wonder how many people were drawn to Christ by that film?

"you're so blind, think of the evangelistic opportunties this movie opens up!"

Have we become that lazy in our evangelistic efforts that we honestly need a movie to compel us to share the gospel with someone? Please, someone tell me no. I don't want to know that we have indeed become so lax in sharing the grace of God through Christ, with a lost and dying world, that we'll only get off our hind ends and speak of Him when a movie comes along.

With all of that said, I already know there are going to be people that will disagree with me about all this. I just find it truly pathetic and disheartening that this IS even an issue among professing believers. And I for one, and quite grateful for people like Jason Janz of Sharper Iron, that have the guts, and the grace to see things that are just WRONG, and speak out for truth, against them.

tags: Christianity,
End of the Spear,
movies

Just a few random thoughts about stuff...

A Saturday Morning mish-mash of thoughts:

• Okay this is too weird. No one (other than Crusty) found the new law about being annoying on the internet even slightly interesting? Oh well...

• We're having a double-birthday here today. Like we've done every year since Rachel was born, we're having hers and Caryn's birthday parties, on the same day. That means 2 cakes, lots of food, and lots of pictures. Last night I made the cakes and the frosting for Caryn's cake, and the strawberry paste for Rachel's cake. I'll post pics and recipes for them later on. For the record, the German chocolate cake frosting is WAY too yummy.

• Last night we watched a movie called The Constant Gardener. It was a good movie, although the cussing in it bothered me more than it usually does. I'm so SICK of cussing in movies. Why can't they script a flick to tell a GREAT story and leave that out? I know LOTS of people that can have fantastically captivating conversations without EVER using 1 cuss word. I wish the film industry would figure that out and bump the intellect level up about 50 notches.

• With the extremely mild weather we're having, I'm not sure our backyard rink is going to come to pass this year. Normally by this time, we've had weeks of sub-zero temps and the rink is already frozen. Yesterday, I was outside in my tennis shoes, filling the rink with water in hopes that these next couple days of cold weather will let me get at least a 2 inch base of ice out there. Granted, we still have February, March & April, but usually come April, the milder weather starts up again & the rink is toast anyway. Sigh...

• If I were Phil Johnson, and posted a blog entry that drew in over 100 comments by the end of the first day, I'd be inclined to pack up my blog-bag and call it a day. There's just no way to interact with that many commenters (although I'd guess there are less than 30 people actually commenting, but I haven't counted), and get all your other responsibilities squared away too. I realize the cessationist v. continuationist issue is a very passionate one with many Christians, but I sure hope they're not all expecting Phil to read all those comments and respond to every one of them.

• Caryn turns 23 next week. As I told Kev last night, "I'm sorry, but this is unacceptable, I am not old enough to have a 23 year old child." It just feels weird, that she's almost 23. Maybe it's some kind of psychological-denial-issue, but I really don't feel old enough to have a 23 yr old kid. Maybe it has more to do with how little I've changed since I was 23? When I was 23, I'd been married for 3 years, and had 2 children. Already well established in my long career of mommy-hood, I was changing diapers and making oatmeal several times a week. Putting a baby down for nap time, and using flash cards for the older one. The same exact things I do now, at 41. Maybe that's part of it too? I dunno, but I can sure tell you 23 years has sped by light a bullet train.

• Kev told me yesterday, if he were financially secure and could retire tomorrow, he'd go out and get a job at Blockbuster Video, just for fun. Sometimes... I worry about him.

And with that, it's time to go make pancakes for a small army. I hope you all have a great Saturday.

Arlen Specter:E-nnoying?

Were you aware of this?:

It's illegal to annoy - A new federal law states that when you annoy someone on the Internet, you must disclose your identity. Here's the relevant language.

"Whoever...utilizes any device or software that can be used to originate telecommunications or other types of communications that are transmitted, in whole or in part, by the Internet... without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person...who receives the communications...shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."

Buried deep in the new law is Sec. 113, an innocuously titled bit called "Preventing Cyberstalking." It rewrites existing telephone harassment law to prohibit anyone from using the Internet "without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy." To grease the rails for this idea, Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, and the section's other sponsors slipped it into an unrelated, must-pass bill to fund the Department of Justice. The plan: to make it politically infeasible for politicians to oppose the measure. The tactic worked. The bill cleared the House of Representatives by voice vote, and the Senate unanimously approved it Dec. 16.

Funny thing is, Frank, the nice man over here, just today made an interesting observation about Mr. Specter (who quite frankly, no pun intended, sounds like a character in an updated Casper movie):

"I'm sitting in my office this morning with a lot of work to do, but I'm trying to figure out if Arlen Specter is an incompetant doofus who can't find his party platform with either hand, or if he is the most astute politician since FDR."

Well, I can't answer this question, but I sure do find it interesting that the same Specter that is causing Frank to ponder the intellect level of politicians, is the same Specter who slipped this little gem into this new law. Now I have to question who the anon commenter was at Frank's "SantaGate" thread, last month? Hmmm.... maybe it was... Arlen? Nawwwww......

(HT: goes to ticatoo, fellow chatter & reader here - thanks ticcers!)

Just a couple things...

• Rebecca has done a really nice thing. She's put together an "Out of Canada Christian Bloggers Showcase", highlighting some really great blogs from all across Canada. You really should go read it, then go discover some new blogs & great blessings. Thank you Rebecca!

• Jason Janz at Sharper Iron has taken a hard look at, and done some pretty impressive research into the controversial casting choice of a gay activist to play the role of Steve Saint in the upcoming release of "End of the Spear". I strongly recommend you go and read his article at the SI forums, then register (if you're not already) and give a show of support.

UPDATE: One of the commenters here made a terrific suggestion. Buy the book instead! To that end, I have opted to showcase 2 options, here at Sovereign Grace Books. You'll be able to learn of what happened on this historic missions trip, AND you'll bypass the homosexual agenda, all in one. Not to mention, it would be a great addition to your home library, for many years to come.

UPDATE II: The more I thought about this movie, and the more I considered the implications, and reactions from Christians, I shared my own thoughts here.

If I could do anything...

I would gather an orchestra
composed of the most gifted musicians the world has ever known.
We would meet in the forest
as the sun kissed the day good morning.
We would be located near a lake,
on a beautiful Spring day.
As the first ray of sunshine filtered through the trees
the musicians would begin.
The animals would stop to listen
and the birds would begin to harmonize with the music.
I would open my mouth
and an angel's voice would come forth
saturating every living thing,
with the glory of God.
The notes in the orchestra
thundering through the woods
each tree passing the notes to the next,
as far as the forest went.
The song I would sing would be

It Is Well, With My Soul.

If I could, I would do this every day,
until the Lord calls me home.

If you could do anything, what would it be?

Unscrupulous Business Decisions

Unscrupulous: Devoid of scruples; oblivious to or contemptuous of what is right or honorable.

That's the word that comes to mind, when I think of the situation of my husband's workplace these days. It's a rather charged atmosphere there these days, and if nothing else, sure motivates us to pray.

Let me give a very recent example:

The week before Christmas, one of the supervisors came around to the floor workers (I'm not sure how many workers were involved in this) and offered them some time off. All of the workers that were given this option only had 2 days on the schedule anyway, between the 2 holidays. Specifically, they were given 2 options.

Option 1: take the 2 days between Christmas and New Year off, without pay.
Option 2: take the 2 days between Christmas and New Year off WITH pay, and use 2 vacation days from 2006.

Everyone (as far as I know) opted for choice #2. In their minds, what was coming was a full 10 days off for the holidays, WITH pay. It was a nice surprise, and a nice way to enter into the holiday season.

The day before Christmas Eve, after many of these folks went out shopping for Christmas gifts (us included), the phone calls came. For some, anyway. Some were never contacted.

"We're sorry, legislation says we can't allow you to use 2006 vacation days in 2005, so we can't allow you to take those 2 days WITH pay". Kev said "WHAT!?" The lady from personell repeated herself. So Kev responded "well, that stinks but okay, I guess I'll be coming in those 2 days then". To which she responded "no, we can't have you do that, we're not having anyone come in those 2 days".

So everyone they offered this option to, and everyone who signed off on vacation days for that week, all had the option rescinded, and were forced to enter the holiday season knowing they were about to suffer a 2 day shy paycheck, the pay period after Christmas. After having just spent money they thought they were safe to spend, being assured they were getting paid for the 2 days off. Well, not everyone... as I said, some people were never contacted, and never knew what hit them, until after New Year's day, when they went back to work.

Needless to say, all of them were outraged, and rightly so. No one signed off for the 2 days without pay, because quite frankly no one can afford that. I'm not sure how many people were involved in this mess, but even if were just 20 people (and I believe it was much more), we're talking a loss in pay for 20 people and their families in the neighborhood of almost TWELVE thousand dollars! I don't know about you, but where I come from, if you gathered 20 people and their families and demanded them to willingly give up 12 grand between the 20 of them, in most cases, it would destroy them, financially.

Many are speculating that between this decision, and the recent decision to let those other 40 people go just before Christmas, that this was the route the company used to pay the corportate heads, the Christmas Bonus that they also took away from the employees this year. After 12 years of a Christmas bonus for all employees, and a Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey - all of that was scrapped this year. It will only be speculation until the next quarterly report is made public, and folks can see if indeed the Christmas Bonus was paid to the salaried employees. Which will cause yet another source of stress around the plant.

So anyway, due to the shady nature of the way this all went down, the employees committee contacted the labor board, to find out if what they did was legal, legit, and without recourse. The labor board informed the committee in writing, that what was done was in fact NOT legal, not legit, and indeed there was recourse.

So yesterday morning, there was another meeting. The head of human resources was rather rude, interrupting people non-stop, and things were getting a bit stuffy in the meeting. Finally, one of the employees on the committee spoke up to the CEO that was present at the meeting, and informed him of the 2-Day-Christmas fiasco, and what the labor board had to say about it.

He had no idea that this decision had ever been made in the first place, and from all accounts looked rather angry as he turned to the head of human resources and with a finger pointed at her said "this is YOUR mistake, YOU will fix it".

What does that mean, exactly? Well, nearly everyone at the plant assumes it means that everyone forced into that 2-day without pay mess, will have the vacation days honored, that they signed off, for. I'm not convinced it does mean that. Call me a skeptic.

And through this all, Kev and I have taken it to prayer. Wisdom to do what's right, faith to trust that He will provide no matter what kind of rotten decisions are made at his workplace, and peace that we not let it affect our moods, or how we deal with things, or deal with each other or the kids. Financial stress is a whopper, and by all stats it is often the source of all sorts of horrible things from abuse, to divorce, depression, and all kinds of other awful things. When we obsess with our circumstances (especially the ones we can't change!) things can get a bit dismal. It hasn't been easy, and when job security no longer exists (he's been there for 13 years this month), it's a tough thing to get ahold of.

The sad thing in all this is, this used to be a really great place to work. Kev actually liked his job, liked the way he was left alone to do his job, and liked the way the business was run. Then... the owner sold out to a corporation, and everything changed. The corporation came in, and it became like a machine. These are the same people that chose to get rid of over 40 people, 2 weeks before Christmas. Some of the people who were let go were 20+ year employees.

Kev is grateful to have a job, and obviously so are we. At the same time, it's hard on him working under these pins and needles conditions, where the workers never know if they might be next in another lay off, or subjected to yet another underhanded, illegal pay cut.

I shared all this, because I'd like to ask my readers to pray about this. Most of the people that work there, live paycheck to paycheck, and have families that depend on them. These are hard working people that do all they can to provide for their families, pay their bills and simply do the right thing. Today is payday, and this is the paycheck that is minus the 2 days pay that was technically stolen from them. Not all of them (most of them, actually) are going to deal well with it, as it puts them in a HUGE financial bind. This is specialized tradeswork, and some of these people are paid upwards of 25 dollars an hour. The 2 days missing from everyone's check today, are 2, 12 hour shifts. You can do the math and see how much that really comes out to. People that have critical payments due this payday (such as mortgage payments, rent, utilities, car payments, etc.) will simply not be able to make those payments. Through absolutely no fault of their own.

Kev and I have been dealing with this via way of prayer, and encouraging each other to just trust the Lord who ALWAYS provides for us. We've been dealing with this since the day before Christmas Eve, and talked about it again last night. We refuse to let the circumstances dictate our reaction (except to cause us to pray) but my heart goes out to the families that are not Christians, and will be in a great amount of stress today, as a result of all this.

So if the Lord leads you in this, prayer for this horrible mess would sure be appreciated.

On judging righteously

A few days ago, Tim Challies had an email exchange with someone who ultimately blew him off as an unregenerate. Why? Well, apparently it was over the issue of judging others unregenerate. How's that for irony? You can read about it here, if you haven't read it already.

I responded to Tim re: his position that you can't ever really know if someone else is truly regenerate, by saying this:

"I'd like to agree with that Tim, but I just can't. I know at least 2 people who "say all the right things" but with their very actions, day after day after day, might as well be confessing they are not a genuine believer. Many others who know these 2 people, agree with what I just wrote."

The idea is, I suppose, that if someone says all the right things, that we're supposed to simply take them at their word. I do have a problem with this however, especially in light of accountability issues, and us being discerning as to who we learn from (assuming someone like this is in a position to be a prominent teacher, apologist, author, etc.). This is not to say however, that based on observation from the outside, we can actually know if someone else is regenerated or not. We can however, form a pretty good opinion on their spiritual credibility.

So wouldn't you just know it, but who would show up to highlight my comment and expound on it? Mr. JollyBlogger himself. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not that he noticed what I said. Noticing it would be okay I guess, if he hadn't linked to me, and made me feel like a bug under a microscope. :o) But hey, I staunchly believe in accountability, so it sure better apply to me first, right?

In that regard, I'm going to highlight just one of his comments here rather than clog up his comment section.

Carla Rolfe has a good comment on Tim's post that shows the tension we sometimes live with. "I'd like to agree with that Tim, but I just can't. I know at least 2 people who "say all the right things" but with their very actions, day after day after day, might as well be confessing they are not a genuine believer. Many others who know these 2 people, agree with what I just wrote."

I feel your pain Carla. I am sure she knows this but I would point out that the Bible has not left us without counsel in this. The Matthew 18 process can be entered into without resorting to speculation on whether or not these folks are genuine believers.

Although she didn't say this, I have a feeling Carla may be in the very familiar situation where there is no church to which these folks are accountable, which could bring discipline to them. That is indeed an all too familiar situation.

And I realize that there is much more to the story than Carla could share here, but if this is a case where there is no church around to exert discipline here are a few thoughts on what might be done.

If I am the only one who knows of the sin I can practice the first step of Matthew 18, and probably the second step. If I and some others know of the sin then together we can practice the first two steps of Matthew 18 easily. If the sinning brothers are not members of my church or of a church to whom I can appeal then I may be unable to go any further, at least ecclesiastically.

Now I will agree with David 100% when it's an offline, face to face, in-church, in-person situation. I strongly believe in what he puts forth. However, in our ever changing world of communication, we now have the 'net that enters the mix when it comes to Christian relationships - and/or what some would call Christian fellowship. So I'm going to put a bit of a spin on this, and apply it to the online world that we're all a part of.

This is a strange way to fellowship for sure, but it's here all the same and we simply have to figure out a good way to deal with things when they come up, ONLINE. This is an area that many are still trying to figure out how or if we can actually apply the mandate given to us in Matthew 18. I don't believe Matthew 18 can be applied to online situations, (not the full extent, anyway) and I've gone into great detail as to why, here.

I've read many comments about this, such as "well just ignore them". That's a logical move, but it doesn't really resolve anything, does it? There are numerous scenarios to take into consideration here. Chats, forums, the ever increasing instance of blogwars, and the snarkiness that shows up from time to time in the comment threads of blogs. Adrian Warnock, among others, have posted some really good "guidelines" for Christian blogging - and so far - every one of them that I have read, are very good. They certainly are applicable to more than just blogs, in that the suggestions should be applicable to any kind of communication, online or offline.

The rest of David's (Jollyblogger) comments, are just too good to add anything to, so I'll just simply send you over there to read his thoughts on this topic.

Happy Birthday Rachel!!!

Seven years ago today, my 5th child was born. I'm sure I've written about this before but because it's a one of my habits to reflect back on the day my children were born, I will tell the story again. Of all 7 of my kids, Rachel's birth is the most bizarre story of them all.

To get the full picture we have to go back to the prior year, 1998. Kev and I were married that year, and we all moved to Ontario, from WA state. Within weeks we began the immigration paperwork, and that would take us until January of 2001 (and thousands of dollars later) to finally complete.

Due to the fact that we were here only on visitor status during the application process, we did not qualify for any kind of medical insurance (known in Ontario as OHIP). That was okay, at first. It was okay until just a few months later when I learned (via a home test) that I was expecting. Having no medical insurance, and no family doctor, (or obstetrician) simply would NOT do. With all of my girls before Rachel, I was quite dogmatic about thorough, prenatal medical care. I did everything I was supposed to do, never missed an appointment, and was the model preggo-lady. :o) This is what I planned to do with Rachel too, but little did I know my plans would be blown sky-high.

On a recommendation from a friend, I went to a walk-in clinic, to get a referral to an obstetrician. Little did I know, that it doesn't work like that here. I was in for a hard and fast education into the Canadian medical care system. Where I come from, if you need a doctor you go to one (normally your family doc) and if you have a condition that requires a specialist, he (or she) will simply refer you to one, and you make a call and go see the specialist. Boom, 1,2,3 and you're done. If you saw your family doc on Monday, odds are you'd be in to the specialist by Friday. NOT the way it works here. Not even close.

If you don't have a family doctor, and there are none in your area that are receiving new patients at the time, you are simply out of luck. You cannot get a referral to a specialist from anyone other than your family doctor, so you're out of luck there too.

During my first visit to the walk in clinic, I was informed of the way it does work here. "Yes, you're certainly pregnant" they said. Yeah, I alread knew that much. "Nope, there are no available family doctors taking new patients right now", they said. My options? Come to the walk-in clinic once a month for a check up. The walk-in clinic that was filled with contagious, sick people, and had rotating doctors who would essentially know nothing of my medical history, my delivery preferences, or really anything else about me, unless they bothered to read my file (which they didn't) and/or took the time to actually talk to me (which they also didn't).

For two months in a row I went back, however. Each time, the wait time in the lobby (filled with people coughing, wheezing, sneezing, etc.) was between 2-4 hours. Each time I had a different doctor than the first time, and not one of them actually examined me. "We don't do that here, you need to see an obstetrician for that". Well, in the most profound word I can think of... DUH! So in essence my visits there were not only a waste of time, but putting myself and the baby in possible danger from the Lord only knows what different varieties of viruses floating all over the waiting room. These doctors didn't provide any more medical care than Kev did at home. Even Kev asked more questions than they did.

So we made a tough decision. No medical attention (not that I was getting any, anyway) until I went into labor. It's not as if it hasn't been done before, for thousands of years before "organized medical care". We decided I would just do what I knew to be right; eat right, sleep well, take my prenatal vitamins, and "listen" to my body for any potential issues. More than that, we would pray diligently for wisdom. So that's what we did.

For the next 5 months I did not see a doctor. I did what I always did when I was pregnant, and everything seemed normal, and okay. I was worried though, and so was Kev. Worried that there could be something wrong that we didn't know about, without medical care. The problem was, they didn't DO any kind of prenatal care at the walk-in clinic anyway. Every few weeks I'd call to see if there were any family doctors yet, taking new patients. The answer was always the same... "not yet, call back in a few weeks to see if anything has changed".

Along came January, finally. I had already figured my due date for around the middle of the month, so I was being very careful to pay attention to any signs of labor. On Friday, January 8th, I began to feel awkward. I knew she (we didn't know she was a girl yet) had dropped down, getting herself ready to make her appearance. There were some other signs that really began to concern me that day, and Kev and I were on pins and needles through the weekend. Monday morning, January 11th, I decided I NEEDED to see a doctor. We went to the clinic (although I'm honestly not sure why) and they said "we think you need to go to the hospital be checked out there". They also informed us, that IF they decided not to admit me, there would be a $200.00 charge for the check-up. Well, we didn't have $200.00 so I decided to wait a little longer.

We left there and had a few stops to make before going home. We bought a couple bags of groceries and stopped at the drug store. Walking back to the van in the minus 22 degree icy wind, I started feeling like I was walking in jello, and almost detached from myself. I thought, "okay, today's the day, this is too weird".

We went home, and Kev and I put Jordan down for her nap, then we both layed down too. I looked at the clock and it was 11:26 am. As soon as I got nice and relaxed, my water broke. Now this is an understatement of the century. It was as if Niagara Falls... well, I'll spare the details. Suffice it to say it was surreal, unreal, and scared the skin nearly off Kev completely. I looked at the clock and it was 11:28.

We got Jordan up & dropped her off at our friend's Tom & Sandi's place. Kev had already called the highschool to have Caryn meet us at the hospital, which was just next door to her school. How handy was that? (Caryn was determined to be there during the birth, just like she was with Jordan).

I wasn't having real labor pains, until about 5 minutes after we dropped Jordan off. When they started, they came hard, and fast, and excrutiatingly painful. I started to cry, and pray, and Kev peeled through the city streets, praying along with me.

When we got to the hospital, he pulled up at the ER entrance and jumped out to get a wheelchair for me. The contractions were so close together at that point, I don't recall any time of relief in between them. The massive urge to push came, just as Kev showed up with the wheelchair.

The next few minutes are sort of a blur. He got me in the wheelchair and Caryn met us at the entrance. He went to admitting and she took me upstairs to labor & delivery - but I don't really remember any of that. I do remember glancing at the clock above the nurses station on the L&D floor, and it said 12:26. It was exactly 58 minutes since my water broke, and if someone didn't do something quick, that baby was going to show up in the wheelchair.

After a few more minutes of unearthly pain, they had me on the exam table & in a gown. I recall saying "I NEED an epidural, I can't handle this pain". The kind nurse patted me on the leg and replied "honey, I understand, but there is NO time for anything like that, this baby is coming right now". At which point I lost all semblance of composure. (Not that I had much to lose at that point). Kev held my hand and started praying outloud, and Caryn held my other hand. It seemed like an eternity of non-stop hard labor, but at 12:56, exactly 30 minutes after I was admitted, Rachel Leigh came into the world, to a crying mother, and a weeping father, and a dazzled sister. Perfectly healthy, with a full head of hair, and eyes wide open (just like Caryn when she was brand new).

Over the next couple of hours, we learned that due to the lack of insurance, if me and the baby stayed overnight, the bill would be nearly double what it was just for the delivery. We were given the option that if both of us checked out okay, we could leave that night. We both did check out fine, so at 8:30 that evening, Kev took us home.

I woke up that day, went to the clinic, ran some errands, had a 2 minute nap, gave birth, then came home and ate pizza. It sounds so unreal, but that's exactly what happened that day, January 11, 1999.

And... to God be the glory that she and I were both healthy through the whole thing!

And now for something completely different...

Today, I was seriously blessed. And before I end this day I just want to share it here. I would have shared it earlier, but my friend Denise forced me against my will, to open my chat room on PalTalk. Ohhhhkay, she didn't force me at all. It was a nice chat we had, several folks stopped by and we even had the opportunity to pray for Debi, who I've posted about before, here. Voice chat with fellow believers is very cool. Ah... such digression.

Because I homeschool, I'm home with my kids 7 days a week. I love my kids with all my heart, and I wouldn't have it any other way. However, when Kev has days off, I really do look forward to him being "the teacher" while I get out to run errands and whatnot. Sometimes moms just need "alone time". Many have asked me over the years "how do you do it!?" referring to being at home with so many kids. Well, getting out by myself is one way I "do it". It's only once or twice a week, but that's okay. It's plenty.

It was an absolutely beautiful day here in Southern Ontario. I don't know what the temp was, but it was sunny, deep blue skies, and no wind whatsoever. Breathtaking, really. Only because I saw the blue skies out the window before I left today for a quick trip to the store, I grabbed my camera as I headed toward the garage.

Then I stopped and snapped these pics of the kids. You'll note the effect of writing out your Scripture memory verse, here with Samuel and Rachel. You'll also note that Ruth is a genuine Homeschooler In Training. For the proof, take a closer look at the picture. She is wearing a denim jumper, after all.

On my way home from the store, I went down my favorite dirt road to the house. It's my favorite because there is a little creek that runs down there, and I love that little creek. It's the Little Thames river.

So I stopped the van at the bridge, got out and just stood there. Absolute silence... and then I heard it... the sound of water, cascading over the stones in the creek bed. The sun was shining on my face, and off in the distance I could hear the sound of a bird chirping. It was a most peaceful, most beautiful scene, indeed.

I did take a few more shots before I took my time going back to the van and coming home. You can see the others here.

Now, I really do need to head to bed. I left the chat room open with Denise admining, and I told her I was going to bed 20 minutes ago! If you happen to see her, mums the word!!! It'll be our little secret, okay?! ;o)

Unity, part 2?

FYI Update: This entry is not about Dan at Cerulean Sanctum. I began this article long before Dan ever posted, and only finished it today. Nor is it about Phil Johnson, even though I did note some complaints about his upcoming topic, as an example, among many other examples of a larger issue. This post is also not about specific blogs, or bloggers, although I do see the issue I'm writing about here, in various places throughout the blogosphere. This post is about symptoms of ecumenism (as I wrote about yesterday, and commented today that I wanted to finish this piece, since they are connected in this way) - showing up in many forms, in many places, and under many different names. I hope this serves to clear up any misunderstanding I may have inadvertantly caused by not being more clear, before I posted this.
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Recently, Instead of doing what I normally do in the mornings, writing, I did quite a bit of reading. Specifically, reading through what is called the God blogosphere. Most of my readers will know what that means, but for the sake of my mom who is now reading my blog via daily email updates (and others who might not be sure about that term) the God blogosphere is simply the online community of Christian blogs.

I came away from all that reading, both blessed and frustrated. Blessed in that there are some really GREAT blogs out there that have some really GREAT things to say. Frustrated in that there are some really GREAT writers out there that seem to almost always take issue with what everyone else is doing - if they're not doing it or saying it or teaching it the way they think they should. (Which is more or less what I'm about to do, but from a bit of a different slant).

I know by saying that eyebrows will go up and you (if you're a blogger) might think I'm talking about you, or your blog. Well, I'm not going to name names or give links (not to the blogs registering complaints about this anyway), I'm just going to address the general situation as I see it.

UNITY at the cost of....what?

Granted, this is just one blogger's opinion but it sure does appear to me that there is a great call for unity out there. The troubling part of that is, it's a unity that never existed prior, and is impossible to have exist now (on certain doctrinal issues). In some cases, it's not really unity (biblical unity anyway) that some are calling for at all. In some cases it's a really nice way of saying "hush up and post about something else, we don't like what you're saying".

Now this is not to say we cannot be civil and courteous to one another, but it is to say that this push for unity is just a bit over the top. What do I mean by that?

There are bloggers who focus on eschatology, ecclesiology, charimatic gifts, music ministry, and so on and so forth. The diverse nature of the blogosphere allows for pretty much anyone to zero in on pretty much whatever they like, or whatever they are gifted in addressing. This upsets some folks because they seem to think these people should get on board with them, and focus on what they're focusing on, and leave these other things alone.

I said I wasn't going to name names, but for the sake of this point I'll pick on Phil. Phil's used to getting picked on so he won't mind, I'm sure. He's made a post this past week that assures his readers that he's going to go ahead and jump into the cessationism v. charismatic/continuationism issue. Personally, I'm looking forward to it.

Do you have any idea how many bloggers & blog readers there are out there this week just having a bird, for his post on that? He hasn't even posted his first entry on it, and there are folks calling for a "de-link this man! I have and my life is richer for it!!" approach (yes, I've actually read many comments that say just that - as if publicly announcing you've de-linked Phil, will earn you some points somewhere?). For various different reasons, folks seem to think because Phil is not focusing on this issue, or that issue, or their own particular pet-issue, that his attention on this topic, is out of line, a waste of time, and just more fodder for the controversy-pit that accompanies the blogosphere.

While it is true that in such heated and sensitive topics there is always going to be someone (or more than one someone) that simply has to post some smart mouthed comment, or snide remark, it is also true that we have the ability to ignore such comments. Fellow-convivialist Libbie (the lady with the PINK blog, lol) made a most profound comment about this, in the comment section at Phil's entry:

"Could it be that, instead of sharpening keyboards, ready for a fight, some people might actually be anticipating Phil's words being helpful to them?"

And to Libbie I say "right on, sister!". Not everyone is drawing their proverbial line in the blogosphere-sand, preparing for a heated battle.

While this unity point really wasn't about Phil personally, or even this particular topic, both did provide a good example.

Other examples would be:

• if you're a cessationist that doesn't approve of the increasing acceptance of continuationism or charismaticism, you're mean, ugly, rude, and schismatic (and likely don't wash behind your ears, you heathen!)

• if you're someone who has spoken out against the emerging phenom, you're also narrowminded and have no true desire to minister to the lost, poor, hungry, downtrodden, etc. Likely you're a narrowminded hyper-calvinist-fatalist-fundamentalist and have personally had a hand in forcing these poor emergent folks into all this, because of YOUR attitude! You big bad meanie!

• if you're a Baptist that holds to historic Baptist distinctives, you've just admitted you hate everyone except fellow historic Baptist adherents and you're all in a cult - likely headed to hell in a handbasket. I find this one especially lame considering Spurgeon's (who we all love to quote) quote here [emphasis mine]:

"We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the reformation, we were reformers before Luther and Calvin were born; we never came from the Church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves. We have always existed from the days of Christ, and our principles, sometimes veiled and forgotten, like a river which may travel under ground for a little season, have always had honest and holy adherents. Persecuted alike by Romanists and Protestants of almost every sect, yet there has never existed a Government holding Baptist principles which persecuted others; nor, I believe, any body of Baptists ever held it to be right to put the consciences of others under the control of man..."—Charles H. Spurgeon

There are many more examples of this, but I think you're likely getting my point.

There is a growing call for "unity" when it would appear that unity isn't what is desired at all. In many cases this call for unity is really just a whitewashed way of saying "stop writing about what you're writing about, and get on board with me".

I saw a lot of this while reading the other day, and saw a lot more recently in a chat discussion. It was the classic Rodney question. In other words, "we don't want facts, truth, honesty or information, we just want everyone to get along and have a grand time". Well, getting along and having a grand time is a wonderful ideal, but the problem there is that it can't happen unless everyone IS on the same page, or at least willing to try to to be, whether personally, emotionally, spiritually, doctrinally, and honestly.

This push for "unity" made me think of this passage here [emphasis mine]:

1 Cor. 12:
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 ¶ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

In looking at this passage I see an odd irony. There are many (many!) blogs out there saying "we're all an eye, and we have no need for the ears. Ears, GO AWAY!" The irony is, in making that statement, and at the same time calling for this unity, they are actually proposing the very schism that this passage speaks against:

there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another

The care "one for another" doesn't seem to be there. The folks calling for everyone to be a foot, or an eye, are in fact saying "I have no need of you", creating a schism, while calling for unity.

Now while many will say this passage is speaking directly to a local assembly of believers (don't even get me started on the universal, invisible church, lol), it's pretty obvious that the application can certainly be extended to the collective family of God scattered throughout the world.

I started writing this several days ago, and since then came upon the information contained in yesterday's post, regarding RC's and Presbies "converging". The problem with convergance in this case, is that it's not going to be the RC church that does any compromising - it will definitely be the Presbies.

And essentially, that's what this is about, compromise. Even more than that, conformity. It seems like there's a lot of it going on, and a lot of folks expecting it. I find this rather disturbing.

Many years ago, I got an email from a lady who was just beside herself for what I was writing about. "How DARE you!" she asked. She had a lot more to say, but the gist of her email was "hush up, write about flowers, sunshine, recipes and fluffy things - and if you don't - you'll be sorry". It was one of the first emails I ever received like that, and it really upset me a great deal.

I had a long talk with Kev about it, and prayed about it for days. I questioned my motives, I questioned the email lady's motives, and I tried to step outside of my situation and look at it from a 3rd party sort of perspective. What I ended up with, was this statement (which was written just days after the horrible Columbine tragedy), slightly edited and updated, so many years later:

"Man, lighten UP!"

How many Christians have ever heard this?
How many Christians have ever heard this from OTHER Christians?

It seems were living in a time when people are far too eager to prefer pleasing words and candy-coated gospel, over the truth of the Bible, the reality of sin, and how God feels about it. It would be wonderful if there was nothing else to discuss except good things, but thats not the world we live in.

We live in a world, and in a time, where crime rates are higher than theyve ever been, in certain categories of crimes. Where there are more cults and false religions out there than we can even count, where the divorce rate is still going up, slaughtering precious babies in the womb is socially acceptable, men with histories of violence against their wives, are getting out of jail and shooting them in the head, kids are killing other kids, and a doctor runs around the country playing God and offering his death-services to people who are terminally ill.

Lighten up?

I wish I could. If I had things my way, none of the above would be happening, everyone would repent and come to Jesus, and sin in the world would no longer exist. But thats NOT going to happen. What IS going to happen, is things will get worse, and worse. According to Scripture, things will get A LOT worse, than they are right now so who has time to lighten up?

Has anyone ever read the step by step medical procedure for a partial birth abortion? Has anyone ever watched an interview with a teenager who's killed someone? Has anyone ever read the statements of a man whos just shot his wife and child?

Maybe some people can be exposed to these things, and not have it affect them. I'm not one of those people.

When I read the medical procedure for a partial birth abortion, I cried, and then I went in the other room and picked up my baby, and held her precious little body in my arms. Then I picked up my other baby, and felt such a sorrow for those tiny little boys and girls who's mothers allowed a medical professional to murder them in cold blood. Passages of Scripture came flooding into my head, shedding of innocent blood, faith like a child, suffer not the children to come unto me... and then I cried some more. Those little people were diabolically murdered, and the law of the land says it's okay.

I read an article about a young boy who killed someone. When he was sitting in court at his trial, he wept uncontrollably, and testified that he didnt understand why he did it, he remembered being in a fog during the act, and not wanting to do it, but not being able to stop himself. He claimed that demons told him to do it, and then they took over his will.

While most people would call this boy a liar, and a cold blooded killer, I thought to myself what if he's not lying?. What agony it must have been for that kid to be under such violent demonic control, and watch himself kill another human being. Have any of us, EVER experienced anything like that? Do we know what it would feel like to be overtaken by a demonic force? I doubt it. Many professing Christians don't even believe that spiritual warfare is real, or that Satan is real. I question their understanding of Gods word. Either satan and his demons are real, or Jesus is a liar. Its either one, or the other, it cannot be both ways.

Every single day, in newspapers across the country and around the world, there are more and more cases of patently evil acts being committed, by people as young as 5, and as old as 80. People are submitting their will, to Satan, and he's using them more and more.

Sometimes I wish I could read about these things and not have them affect me deep in my soul. And then other times I'm grateful that they do, because that tells me I haven't become desensitized to evil.

The world we live in is getting worse, and worse, and will continue to morally decay, until Jesus comes back. And some of my brothers and sisters are telling me to lighten up, and stop being so depressing. I've been advised to be more edifying, and focus more on the grace of God, His love and mercy, His forgiveness.

Gods grace came in the form of a man, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus suffered like no man ever has, and gave His life, as payment for sins and yet, the world continues to wallow in sin, and reject His payment, rejecting His grace and forgiveness. It's a difficult truth to deal with, and those of you who have lost loved ones, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

There are a lot of really solid, Bible based websites (and blogs) out there. Because God is God, and knows exactly what He's doing, He leads people to witness and minister in a wide variety of ways. Some websites witness with humor, others with biblical doctrine, some with comparing headline news to prophecy, and still others with music, some focus on bible study, and then others focus on Christian art. Everyone follows the leading the Holy Spirit in the way they believe He would have them do, and witness in the way He's led them.

That's the way this site works, as well. There are sites that I personally find too soft on sin, and others that I find too harsh on human beings. This is just one persons opinion. Those folks who run those sites, are accountable to God for what they do in His name, just as we're accountable to Him, for what we do here, in His name.

I will continue to write the articles He leads me to write, in the way He has led me to understand the issues, that I write about. We appreciate your prayers, and support and we encourage you as always, to line up everything you see, hear, and read, on this site, and everywhere else, with the Word of God.

If it lines up, hang onto it, if it doesnt, get rid of it.

For those who have said lighten up, we would encourage you to examine your motives for wanting us to do that. As long as there are issues in the world as described above, and the Lord leads us in this direction, this site will remain the same as it stands, today.

While this was written about mine and Kev's site, it sure still applies to me, here on this blog. It's not as if I have numerous complaints each day about the content here - but I have had some, and I constantly see folks registering these same kinds of complaints about other people's blogs and sites. More than that, they make it personal and accuse the bloggers or site owners of some pretty nasty motives, or intentions. It's rather disheartening that these complaints and accusations come from other Christians.

In any event, I just thought I'd sound off on this today.

Bits & Pieces

I woke up late this morning, so I wont be able to post what I had intended to. That intention was to post a follow-up of sorts, to the unity post from yesterday. Technically I guess it might not be called a follow up since I actually began this post quite a few days ago.

There seems to be a desire on the part of many, to hush up any kind of conversation about such things that some don't want to talk about. Whether they be doctrinal issues, recent trends or movements within Christian circles, or what have you. The problem I'm seeing with this is that the folks that want other folks to hush up, also want you and me (and anyone else) to refocus our attention onto areas of ministry or service that 1. they think is more meaningful and 2. they assume you're not putting any effort toward currently. I guess if you are passionate about A. that concludes that you're not interested in ministry B.? I'm not sure, but that's the message I'm getting.

Sort of like this:

Stop talking about doctrine and get off your fat, lazy hiney and go feed the hungry!

How do those folks know that the passionate doctrinal discussion participants, aren't out there feeding the hungry? Or, do they just really want you and me to shush up, and/or go away?

Always questions... At any rate, I do hope to actually get back to this today.

Now THIS is funny:

Overheard (and mis-heard) conversation between Samuel (5) and Rachel (7 tomorrow) this morning:

Rachel: and what does this guy do? (referring to a toy)
Samuel: oh! This is Fallacy Man!

My first thought: Does Samuel logon and surf the blogosphere when I'm asleep?

He actually said Galaxy Man (a joint creation of random k'nex parts, put together yesterday by Kev and Samuel)

Now that I just re-read that, I see a centuri0n t-shirt in there somewhere...

New titles added to SGB

I've been busy again this evening adding more books (and 1 audio book) to my book blog.

Newest Additions:

• Just David By Eleanor Porter • The Pilgrim's Progress • Sergeant York and the Great War • Holy War By John Bunyan • Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends By Sarah, Stephen & Grace Mally • Kingdom Series • Growing Up Christian: Have You Taken Over Ownership of Your Relationship with God? By Karl Graustein & Mark Jacobsen

Unity = ecuminism = conformity?

What you're about to read is 1. quite long, and 2. not news to many people.

I won't apologize for the length, I believe it's a topic worth spending much time with. If long blog entries turn you off, that's okay. While this specific development I read about last night & today is news to me, I'm sure it's not news to many people. I don't have time to follow the trends & politics of the reformed/Christian organizations & associations like some people can.

It's interesting how things happen. Two nights ago my friend Denise and I were discussing unity. False unity, misunderstood unity, misdirected unity, and Biblical unity. It's really a rather interesting topic, and we spent a good while looking at it from several angles. Interestingly enough, while Denise and I were discussing this topic, there was a meeting going on between Rome, and the WARC. I knew nothing about it, until the next day.

Reading the news last night I came across this article:

Pope discusses Christian unity with Presbyterians.

The headline alone gave me cause to brace myself for more unbiblical, ecumenism. I didn't really have time to read the whole thing last night so I went back and read it this morning. Then went and read the response of the WARC here:

WARC Leaders Call for New Era of Partnership with Vatican.

A couple of quotes from this statement that really jumped of the screen for me:

"In addition to the meeting with the pope, the delegation also met with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Council for Justice and Peace. Kirkpatrick said the Reformed family is grateful to God for the three phases of the Reformed-Catholic dialogue that have been completed and said WARC was eager to move closer to the Catholic church "in common faith and witness." While there have been breakthroughs in ecumenical relations between Catholics and Protestants, Kirkpatrick called for further movement. "There is still much to be done to move beyond our past condemnations of one another, as parts of the one body of Jesus Christ, serve God together without worrying about inhibitions in our nations and to come together at the table of our Lord. "We are eager to be partners with you in this important ministry of Christian unity."

Clearly, the Reformation didn't mean much to these reformed denominations? Scrolling through the list of member churches of the WARC I notice that some of the more liberal Presbyterian denoms in the US and Canada are members. While I'm not familiar with all of the member churches listed, it's still a grievous thing to see this, from ANY church professing Christ as Lord.

This next quote was even worse, if possible:

"In the pope's response, he noted that the dialogues between Catholic and Reformed theologians had shown significant convergence on the understanding of the nature of the church of Jesus Christ. "

In other words, the Pope was delighted that the Reformed theologians are entertaining this idea of unity with Rome. Sad.

Here's another one that made both myself and Kev just groan. This was the opening statement in the presentation to the pope, from Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, president of the WARC:

"Your Holiness, in this Season of Epiphany we greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, who is revealed as Lord and Savior of the world. We extend a special word of congratulations to you in this first year of your papal ministry and assure you of the prayers of Reformed Christians all over the world that God will richly bless your ministry."

Up until this morning, I aligned myself with the reformed label. It just seems easier to agree with the question "are you reformed?" rather than spend 15 minutes explaining that I am Baptist, and hold to the 5 points of the TULIP. For the last couple of years however, I've been having a few issues with what this alignment actually means. It's very misunderstood, and does NOT mean for many people, what it meant to me. Reading this man give assurance to the pope that reformed Christians all over the world are praying for his ministry, gave me the chills. While this man may speak for his own organization and the member churches, he certainly does not speak for reformed Christians in general. I can assure you that indeed many who align themselves with the reformed label are indeed praying for the pope, but not that God would bless his ministry. The prayers for the pope are more along the lines that God might be pleased to reveal the true faith of Christianity to this man, grant him repentance, and call him out of this false religion of man.

Kirkpatrick's next statement in the presentation:

"We come representing the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the global fellowship of 215 churches of Reformed, Congregational, Waldensian, and Presbyterian traditions composed of some 75 million Christians from all parts of our world. We are churches shaped by the Protestant Reformation and its values but also deeply committed to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church of which both of our communities are a part. "

This is saying a mouthful. Kirkpatrick is confirming what the much maligned JR Graves wrote so many years ago:

Can not Rome justly say: "Spare me, my dear children, and honor your mother, if you would be respected. Do you not all call yourselves Protestants and Reformed? You then admit yourselves once to have been a part of myself, and to have proceeded forth from me! Do you not, to-day, call yourselves 'branches of THE CHURCH?' Of what, Church are you branches, but of the HOLY ROMAN CATHOLIC, in which you all acknowledge you originated, and from which, as a branch from a parent trunk, you confessedly proceed? If I, the Catholic Church, am the mother of 'harlots,' and 'abominations' of the earth, you are all my children, and
consequently are THOSE VERY HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS! You do not well, my daughters, thus to cast reproach upon your parentage. I commend to you the example and filialness of your sister, my favorite child, the Episcopal Church, which, like a prodigal, is returning to her mother's house." (chapter 4, The Protestant Tri-lemma; OR, DEATH BY THREE HORNS. J. R. GRAVES, 1861.)

It would seem a most difficult task to argue with this statement. I have a dear friend who unapologetically holds to historic Baptist disctinctives. He denies the label of Calvinist, reformer, or any other label that would in any way align him with the reformation. At the same time, he staunchly holds to the 5 points of the TULIP. This position has earned him much harassment, mockery and slander from fellow professing believers, if you can imagine that. He's labelled a "Landmarker" and treated with contempt, by many professing Presbyterians. Yet, reading this statement of JR Graves, I cannot imagine how the logic of this escapes anyone.

The next statement from Kirkpatrick in his presentation:

"We are extremely grateful for the three phases of the Reformed – Roman Catholic dialogue that have been completed and have borne real fruit in our common understanding of the presence of Christ and the nature of the church and in our common witness to the Kingdom of God. We are eager to begin the next stage of efforts to move closer together in common faith and witness and look forward to exploring this possibility with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity while we are here in Rome. As Reformed Christians, we will also soon be commemorating the 500th anniversary of the founding of our movement and are eager to find ways to approach these events and our learning from them ecumenically with our sisters and brothers from the Catholic Church."

When I read that I couldn't help but think of the very similar statements I've read from those caught up in the "emerging church" movement. It's about unity, inclusiveness, ecumenism, and brotherhood. Sound doctrine, sola Scriptura are out the window. There is a common witness to the Kingdom however, it's the Rodney Kingdom Movement... with the common motto of "can't we just all get along?". This "unity on the common points" is showing up at an alarming increase in other areas as well. That's a topic for an entry all it's own, at another time.

Well, getting along is all well and good, as long as it's clearly understood that the doctrines of Rome are not in any way the doctrines of Biblical Christianity. Roman Catholicism is not Biblical Christianity - there is no "common understanding" or "common witness", any more than Christians have a common ground with Jehovah's Witnesses, Muslims, Mormons, or any other religion.

In Kirkpatrick's closing statement in his presentation he had this to say:

"In many ways, historians will likely look back on the second millennium of Christian history as the millennium of the division of the Christian Church. May we together, in the power of the Holy Spirit, commit our efforts to make the third millennium the era of the reuniting of the broken body of Christ. May God bless you and may God bless our common efforts to be pilgrims together for the unity which Christ intends for the Church and the world!"

To be quite blunt, this statement made me quite literally nauseated. For those that still believe Rome was ever a true church, you might be confused as to why this bothers me so much. It doesn't take much research to find out how the church in Rome was started, and why it was started. It was NOT a church founded on the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ AT ALL. Inflammatory statement, or historical fact? I assure you it's a historical fact. All one has to do is study church history to see this for themselves. Many will disagree with this - but all one has to do is read the RC church documents, and compare them with Scripture, to see this. One of the most passionate pleas of some of the reformers was that Rome renounce her pagan doctrines and adhere to the truths of the Bible. How much blood was shed at the hands of Rome, for those who refused to bow to her self-imposed teachings? No, Roman Catholicism has never been, and will never be Biblical Christianity, nor was this the church Jesus spoke of when He said that he would establish HIS church, and that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Which brings me to this statement "May we together, in the power of the Holy Spirit, commit our efforts to make the third millennium the era of the reuniting of the broken body of Christ".

If Christ declared that even the gates of hell would NOT prevail against His church, how can any man dare claim that the body of Christ is broken? Not even touching on the idea of the church local v. the church universal, the implication made here is that at some point, Christ's church has been victoriously prevailed against! I find that a most incredibly arrogant and ignorant statement. If there have always been, and are now, and always will be, genuine believers scattered throughout the world, it is literally impossible to make such a claim that His body is broken.

In his response to Kirkpatrick's address, the pope had this to say (emphasis mine):

Address of Pope Benedict XVI:

Dear Friends, At the beginning of this new year I welcome you, the leaders of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, on the occasion of your visit to the Vatican. I recall with gratitude the presence of Delegations from the World Alliance both at the funeral of my predecessor Pope John Paul II and at the inauguration of my own papal ministry. In these signs of mutual respect and friendship I am pleased to see a providential fruit of the fraternal dialogue and cooperation undertaken in the past four decades, and a token of sure hope for the future.

This past month, in fact, marked the fortieth anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, which saw the promulgation of the Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio. The Catholic-Reformed Dialogue, which came into existence shortly thereafter, has made an important contribution to the demanding work of theological reflection and historical investigation indispensable for surmounting the tragic divisions which arose among Christians in the sixteenth century. One of the results of the Dialogue has been to show significant areas of convergence between the Reformed understanding of the Church as Creatura Verbi and the Catholic understanding of the Church as the primordial Sacrament of God’s outpouring of grace in Christ (cf. Lumen Gentium, 1). It is an encouraging sign that the current phase of dialogue continues to explore the richness and complementarity of these approaches.

The Decree on Ecumenism affirmed that "there can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without interior conversion" (No. 7). At the very beginning of my Pontificate I voiced my own conviction that "inner conversion is the prerequisite for all ecumenical progress" (Homily in the Sistine Chapel, 20 April 2005), and recalled the example of my predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who often spoke of the need for a "purification of memory" as a means of opening our hearts to receive the full truth of Christ. The late Pope, especially on the occasion of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, gave a powerful impulse to this endeavour in the Catholic Church, and I am pleased to learn that several of the Reformed Churches which aremembers of the World Alliance have undertaken similar initiatives. Gestures such as these are the building-blocks of a deeper relationship which must be nurtured in truth and love.

Dear friends, I pray that our meeting today will itself bear fruit in a renewed commitment to work for the unity of all Christians. The way before us calls for wisdom, humility, patient study and exchange. May we set out with renewed confidence, in obedience to the Gospel and with our hope firmly grounded in Christ’s prayer for his Church, in the love of the Father and in the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Unitatis Redintegratio, 24).

In the first quote that I highlighted in bold, it's worth understanding to know that Rome will NOT bend when it comes to it's own teaching on what the church is. She is the church, and there is no salvation for those outside of her. Period, end of story.

According to one RC website:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, following historic Christian theology since the time of the early Church Fathers, refers to the Catholic Church as "the universal sacrament of salvation" (CCC 774–776), and states: "The Church in this world is the sacrament of salvation, the sign and the instrument of the communion of God and men" (CCC 780). Many people misunderstand the nature of this teaching. Indifferentists, going to one extreme, claim that it makes no difference what church one belongs to. Certain radical traditionalists, going to the other extreme, claim that unless one is a full-fledged, baptized member of the Catholic Church, one will be damned. The following quotations from the Church Fathers give the straight story.They show that the early Church held the same position on this as the contemporary Church does—that is, while it is normatively necessary to be a Catholic to be saved (see CCC 846; Vatican II, Lumen Gentium 14), there are exceptions, and it is possible in some circumstances for people to be saved who have not been fully initiated into the Catholic Church (CCC 847). Notice that the same Fathers who declare the normative necessity of being Catholic also declare the possibility of salvation for some who are not Catholics. These can be saved by what later came to be known as "baptism of blood" or " baptism of desire" (for more on this subject, see the Fathers Know Best tract, The Necessity of Baptism). The Fathers likewise affirm the possibility of salvation for those who lived before Christ and who were not part of Israel, the Old Testament People of God. However, for those who knowingly and deliberately (that is, not out of innocent ignorance) commit the sins of heresy (rejecting divinely revealed doctrine) or schism (separating from the Catholic Church and/or joining a schismatic church), no salvation would be possible until they repented and returned to live in Catholic unity. (emphasis mine)

The pope states there have been "significant areas of convergance" between the reformed view of the church, and Rome's view. What does that mean to you and me, in plain English? It means he's encouraged that more reformers are bowing to Rome's view, and acknowledging Rome as the 1 true church. If Rome will not alter her views on what the true church is, and she certainly will not, and the pope is impressed with the convergence, it certainly does not mean that Rome has compromised. It can only mean one thing. Someone ELSE has compromised to Rome's views.

The second statement of the pope that I highlighted has significant meaning.

• "there can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without interior conversion"
• "purification of memory"

What exactly does this mean, interior conversion and purification of memory?

I'm quite sure there are others out there that know exactly what it means, and can easily provide source documentation and references for it. I do not wish to assume anything into these statements, but it seems awfully clear that this simply means "come home to Rome".

In conclusion, it also seems awfully clear that many are doing just that.

All I have left to say about all this is this:


Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Refocusing the Balance

Dislcaimer: this is a "where I am now" post...

Over the last few months I've been unwillingly involved in a situation that is filled with strife, tension, antagonism, snide remarks, snotty comments, unwillingness to reconcile (on one side), lack of discernment, and all kinds of other absolute junk. Numerous people are involved in this situation, to one degree or another, and everyone's got their own "side" as to what's really going on, what's imagined, what's important and what isn't.

What it all boils down to is a whole lotta ugly.

With certain aspects of this situation on my mind this afternoon, I went to lay down for a while and meditate on what the Bible describes as true friendship, genuine fellowship, and Biblical unity. It was too much to think about, and feeling restless I got up and went for a walk in the icy wind. (new header pic taken while I was out there)

Nothing like an icy wind up your face to clear the pipes, so to speak.

I recall a time when I was a teenager, and had a friend who wasn't really a friend (although I certainly didn't know it at the time), I went to my mom over and over again with tales of what my friend did this time, and what happened, and how it affected me, and so on and so forth. One of the things mom said to me (more than once) growing up, is this:

"You can't change other people, but you can change yourself".

Now before anyone gets this goofy idea that mom was a professing Pelagian, she was obviously referring to making good choices when it comes to relationships with other people.

That gem of wisdom popped into my head today and I considered the relationships I do have with people, currently. When I think of all the people I know, either casual aquaintances, or family, or close friends, blogger-pals, chat-pals, etc., the list of relationships is a pretty long one indeed.

Of the ones closest to me, the list gets a bit smaller. Of the ones I consider genuine friends who would bend over backward for me or my family, the list grows even shorter.

This was where my thoughts were directed to today, walking down the laneway with the bitter cold east wind turning me into a Blogger-cicle. These are people in my life who are 100% honest with me at all times, but tempering that honesty with gentleness because they know how easily my feelings are hurt. It's that they know me well enough to know that, that touches me. These are people who genuinely want what's best for me, even if it's not always what I think is best for me. People who call, write, email, or flag me down at the store just to say "hey" and ask how things are going. They do it because they really want to know, not because it's a polite thing to do. People who, if I ever say something dumb, or do something dumb, they come to me and say "hey, that was dumb, what did you do that for?". People who listen when I explain, or apologize, if need be. I could sit here all day and list all kinds of additional attributes that these people display.

When I thought of these people and how grateful I am to have people like them in my life, that piece of advice that mom repeated so many times so many years ago, came to mind.

Knowing full well I can never change anyone else, and that it's futile to try it, my hearts desire is that I be the same kind of friend that I'm so blessed to have in my own life. That's the goal, and sadly I've been sidetracked by so many other things. Instead of focusing on serving others, my thoughts have been overwhelmed with the things others have said & done, that have hurt. Over and over again I've had friends come to me (about this situation) and say things like "oh pfffft on those people, they don't know you, don't let what they have to say bother you!"

I honestly wish it were that easy. I honestly wish hurtful comments about my character, or statements of doubt about my relationship with Christ, just didn't affect me. Maybe they wouldn't affect me so much if they were said by people that I didn't respect and admire? I'm not sure. What I am sure of, is that these things DO affect me, and they do nag me, in the back of my mind. Just last night I heard myself confess to a friend "the thing is, this WILL bug me until it's resolved, I don't "do" unresolved issues well".

I sort of surprised myself by saying that, because that's really what it comes down to for me. I believe in being honest and upfront, and if you've got something to say, SAY it, and get all the cards on the table. Wordplay and snide comments NEED not apply. Headgames and innuendo have NO PLACE in relationships, especially relationships between professing believers.

So the more I thought about this today, the more that same old, annoying, pesky, human character trait popped up.

PRIDE!

Ugh. Pride is so much more than being arrogant and conceited. Pride can also rear it's ugly head whenever your thoughts about yourself (your feelings, your pain, your stress, fears, frustrations, etc.) overtake you to a place where that's nearly all you're thinking about and talking about. I know this. I've written about it before, talked about it before, prayed about it, dealt with it and been annoyed by it. And yet there it is again, back for a command performance in my life. And it genuinely ticks me off.

Other than the Lord, I know myself better than anyone. I know I'm prone to saying and doing stupid things that I should have never said, or done. Heat of the moment, temporary insanity, giving in to the easy way out - chalk it up to whatever you want to chalk it up to, that's me. I know this about myself and I'm NOT impressed. Instead, it revolts me that is part of me.

Today my thoughts turn toward those closest to my heart who also know this about me (because they know it about themselves too) and gently remind me to press in to Christ, press on to better things, and keep running the race. Sometimes you seem to cruise along with nothing but smooth sailing in this race... and other times you hit every pothole, roadblock and rotten weather pattern out there.

But we don't stop, because He doesn't stop. There's a great verse that comes up for me over and over again and that verse is here:

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6)

Whenever I read that verse, I'm drawn to 2 points of assurance.

1. All my confidence is in Him, because He is holy, righteous, just and perfect. Whenever life stinks, as it often does, I can take great comfort in the fact that He is more than worth of my confidence.

2. It is written, literally, on the fabric of time, that He is faithful to finish what He started. What He has started in me was a work of growth, and grace. While I am certainly more spiritually mature today than I was 10 years ago, I look at my own life and see how much farther I need to go! I look at myself and the words that come to mind are "Woe is me! for I am undone". The worst possible thing anyone else might ever say about me, doesn't even come close to what I know dwells in my flesh. Even writing about it gives me the creeps, but it's the truth. However, knowing that He is ever-faithful, this also is a great assurance to me that while I will never be sinless while in this flesh, that spiritual growth and maturity is what I can look forward to, each passing day, month, and year. This is a wonderful thing to look forward to.

So running this race, as hard as it is somedays, is what we do.

As I look over this post and re-read what I have just said, I'm hesitant to post it for one reason, and one reason only. Much of the time whenever I've written in the last few months I feel as if my hands are tied. I know that there are at least a few people who read this blog for no other reason (or so it seems) to pick apart every word I write. If I write about those things pertaining to doctrine, the accusation has been levelled that I'm not being honest and have some kind of ulterior motive. If I write about my own spiritual growth or struggles, then the accusation comes that I'm some sort of self-centered ego-maniac that can't rise above my own struggles and trials. It's the proverbial rock & hard place, whenever I think about how my words might be perceived.

I received an email the other day from a lady who said this:

"your words bless me, keep writing for an audience of One!"

And that's exactly what I intend to do. It is my hope and prayer that He might be pleased to allow this, and that what I have to say here DOES glorify Him, and in some way bless and edify others, along the way.

For the love of Loons

I was at it again last night on a brand new graphic. A loon! I love loons, and if you've ever heard a loon call at sunset, sitting by the lake at the cottage... well, there is just no other sound like it. In fact, click this and LISTEN to one for yourself!

The Michigan Loon Preservation Association has this touching memorial on it's site:

"When You Hear the Loon Call"

When you hear the loon call, remember me.
Not in sorrow, but in the joy of another spring lived and loved.
When you hear the loon call, remember me with the realization that we are but one of many precious creatures of the earth and the sky and the sea.
Treasure and protect the earth and all of its life.
Live and love each other.
As the loon returns north in the spring, we return to our Lord when He calls.
When you hear the loon call, remember me.
-G. Purdy, Dedicated to the memory of JoAnne Duffy with gratitude for remembering the Loons.

There are several new designs incorporating this beautiful bird, at the North Country Loon department of Reflections. I had a lot of fun creating this birdie. It's a computer generated graphic that appears similar to a dry brush, or a watercolor painting. It's quite a an intricate process to make these graphics, but it's a labor of love, to be sure.

Well this is annoying...

I noticed last night that some of the text in the sidebar is now HUGE.

I'm not sure why that is, since I didn't change anything in the template. If someone reading knows how to fix this, please let me know?

'Round the neighborhood...

A few items to note:

• Kim has started a new blog, a reading journal. Stop by and give her a word of encouragment on this new venture. I think it'll bless quite a few folks.

• James White (or Doc, as those from #pros know him by) happened to catch The Book of Daniel last night. He had this (among other things) to say:

"...it's just your regular ol' American story, or so someone wants us to believe. The male homosexual character is soon to graduate as a doctor--he isn't the kind of homosexual you see in gay pride marches dancing down the road in a thong. No, Hollywood knows better than that." (read the full entry here)

• Marc at Purgatorio caused an ASMCOMN (pronounced "azzm-common") in this house today. In case you're wondering what an ASMCOMN is, it's an "almost shot my coffee out my nose" reaction. Click that link and you'll see why.

• I don't really have a legit reason to mention Frank, except to say he's a shameless capitalist. Go here and see why. (I am impressed with his graphics-skills, but don't tell him that)

• Rebecca is doing something VERY cool. Inspired by Gummby who said "I can't believe how much good blogging is coming out of Canada.", Rebecca has decided to do a showcase post of "Out of Canada Christian Blogs." Go check it out, and drop her a note re: your Canadian Christian Blogness.

As for me today, in keeping with what it takes to earn and maintain ("her ability to design and market cafepress merchandise and have the gumption to sell it at the highest retail price conscionable") that lovely little spinny-nickel award over yonder in the side bar, I've created 2 new graphics for a selection of 4 different products. And for the record, I make a whopping $2.33 Canadian, on the sale of each product in this section of the store. The new section is Eremos Kerusso. I'll be adding new graphics and maybe redesigning some older ones, for this section.

And... since most of my readers likely also read the same blogs I just mentioned, NONE of this is news to you. Just in case though, I wanted to share with my readers here what caught my eye today.

Now it's time for a nap.
:o)

I Lost

Remember that holiday photo contest I entered, and asked you all to help me win by voting each day? Well... I didn't win. These people did. I'd been checking the site every day to see if my picture was among the top 3, and just today they finally announced the winners.

Oh well... maybe next time?

Recipe for success - literally

Well, I'm sure you've all just been beside yourself with anticipation, waiting to hear how the chicken pot pie turned out.

I am pleased to announce, it turned out quite wonderfully. This is a HUGE statement from me, since I hate chicken. This was so good I even ate a piece, and liked it. I had to improvise with the ingredients, and wing it without a recipe. So, for those that are curious and would like to try it, here ya go:

Carla's Chicken Pot Pie
(Recipe makes 2 9" pies, you can halve the ingredients to make a single pie)

1 cup carrots - cubed (1 lg. carrot)
1/2 cup diced celery (2 stalks)
2 cups potatos, peeled & cubed (3 med. potatos)
1/2 cup green pepper - diced (1/2 med. pepper)
1 cup onion - diced (1/2 med. onion)
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken (6 thighs)
2 cups grated cheddar
1 10oz. can chicken gravy
1 10oz. can turkey gravy

4 pie shells (recipe follows)

Mix all veggies, chicken, gravy and cheese in a large bowl. Line 2 pie plates with pastry and fill. Top each pie with pastry, seal edges and slice a small vent in the top.

Bake at 375 for 1 hour. Serve with a green salad or whole berry cranberry sauce.

Now, after I made my pies I stuck them in the freezer for a few hours, then baked them. I had to bake them for about 90 minutes from frozen.

My pie crust:

(makes 2 pastry shells)

2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup butter - chilled
3/4 teas. salt
1 yolk of a large egg

In a large bowl combine flour & salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, mix yolk with 3 tablespoons of cold water. Sprinkle yolk mixture over flour mixture. Toss with fork lightly to blend. Add up to 2 tablespoons of cold water until dough begins to form a ball.

Turn out onto lightly floured surface, and cut in half. Shape each half into pie shell with rolling pin.

Any unused dough can be tightly wrapped and frozen for up to 2 months. To thaw, remove from freezer and allow to sit at room temp for several hours.

A bold new kitchen-venture...

School is over for today - and now I'm off to the kitchen to make a chicken pot pie. I've never made one before, and all the recipes I found call for cream of chicken soup (which I do not have) so, this should be interesting. We'll see how this turns out... stay tuned for updates! (I bet you're just dying to know how this turns out, eh?)

If you have a great chicken pot pie recipe floating around, drop me a comment and let me know?

For the love of books... and more books... and a few more books...

I've written about this a little bit before, but for the sake of new readers...

When I was a little girl, books fascinated me. Correction: they fascinated me only if:

1. It was raining and I couldn't be outside in the pear tree
2. I was reading for pleasure and not by school assignment
3. I could read my own selections

I remember one of my very first trips to the school library, in the first grade. I was a BIG kid in first grade, and it was library day. I was the happiest 6 year old child on the planet, bar none. I couldn't read well yet, but that was a trivial matter as far as I was concerned. I was going to "the library". The giant room filled with books. Books that make that unmistakable crackly sound as the binding is opened, and the rustling of pages turning. Books with old, yellowed pages. Books with beautiful artwork on the dustjackets. Very old books with that "book-smell" that tell you it's been treasured by hundreds, maybe thousands of hands before you picked it up for the first time. Books filled with history, adventure, heartbreak, happiness, boys and girls, old people, tree forts, games, jokes, model-building and even recipes to make your own playdough! To the mind of a child in 1970, long before the internet made so much of this available in almost every home in North America, "the library" was a trip to the adventure capital of the world.

One of the very first books I checked out of the library that fall in 1970, was an oversized children's book called Green Eyes. It had the face of a cat on the cover, with brilliant green eyes. It was a different cover than the one in print now. I'm fairly certain the artwork fascinated me more than anything else, but I so badly wanted to know what that book said about that cat, I tried my best to read it. It was a dismal failure.

The next library day I returned my book and felt like a soldier who'd lost a battle. I didn't want to give it up by I couldn't read it, so it was for the best. Before first grade let out for the summer I ended up borrowing it again, and that time I could READ IT! I honestly cannot tell you what the story was about - other than an adventure of a cat with dazzling green eyes - obviously... but the important part was that I could finally read well enough to read that book.

Something about books just held me captive. On rainy days I would spend the whole day (if mom would let me) pouring over the encyclopedias we had. By the time I grew up, I'm pretty sure I'd read every one of them, cover to cover.

When I was 11, I learned how to power-read (for lack of a better term). Mom would often buy a new paperback on Saturday morning, and take it to work with her on Monday. She used to say "if you want to read it you have until Sunday night to get it read!". Oh sure mom, like that's possible?! Well, I found out it WAS possible. For the next several years I'd power through a book in 2 days (or less), on the weekends. When The Stand came out, it took 4 days. That was rough, since I was deathly ill with a flu the day I started reading it - half convinced I had the same illness as told of in the book.

After I grew up and got married, and all these kids showed up - all that reading fell by the wayside. Oh BOY do I miss it. Over the last 23 years I've had lots of books to read, and not a lot of time to read them. Every once in a while though, I get a good book and power through it like there's no tomorrow. I almost always have 2, 3 or more books going, at the same time (like right now, Riddlebarger, Pearcey and Wells). Some might call it a sickness, lol.

So naturally, since I'm a book junkie - it only stands to reason that I would have married a fellow book-junky. Whom by the way, recently absconded with my borrowed copy of David Wells' Losing our Virtue, and keeps commenting "hey, this is a really good book". I have informed him that only a book-theif would know that, since I started it first. He just laughs.

Whenever we get a book catalog in the mail, it's a battle of wits to see who gets to look through it first. He usually lets me win (I can run faster than him anyway). I browse through and mentally note all the books I'd just love to have in our home. Character building books for the kids, adventure series, devotionals, fiction, etc. Is there no end, to this madness? I hope not.

I've warned Kev, when all the kids are grown up and on their own, he wont see me for a few years. I'll be holed up in the living room with every book I haven't been able to read in the last 20+ years, and I will read EVERY one of them. Including every volume of Spurgeon's sermons, that I bought him for Christmas 7 years ago.

So it's because of my love for books that I started the new blog called Sovereign Grace Books. Of course not every book I list there will be of the sov. grace persuasion - but most of them will be. I'll also be listing books for young ladies, young men, audio-books, books that have been made into video or dvd, family reading, and anything else that strikes my fancy. I love books, what can I say? Tonight I was browsing through another book catalog and noting the ones I'd either like to read for myself, or that looked like really good books for young ladies and young men. So, I went ahead and added 16 more books to the blog. :o)

I have a gigantic master list somewhere around here, and sooner or later (time permitting) I'll get them all on there. Then, just add more as I discover them & find links for them.

So enjoy my recommendations - and if you're like Kim, who is a fellow-book-junkie, make a coffee before you visit, you might be there a while.

Calling all GEEKS!

I need help. No wise-cracks, I need TECH help.

From time to time I do a search to see if better internet access is available in my area - and as of today, the answer is NO, it is not.

However, I did find something (lots of somethings) called a dial-up web accelerator. This one in particular really caught my eye: Propel Accelorator (endorsed my Larry Magid of CBS news, so it has to be reliable, eh?)

So my question is, do these things really work and is this the best one out there? If there's a better one (and they really work), which one is it?

Okay - now onto other help:

Magical Home Recipes For Anything

I have 2 male cats. They're both spraying in my house. It's killing me!

Is there something (home recipe?) I can spray OVER where they have sprayed to nuetralize the odor? I mean, BESIDES nuclear waste in an aerosol can? Not that I have any handy, but this is ONE SERIOUS STINK.

Help me ohmy blogreaders, you're my only hope...

How's your blogitude?

Yesterday I took slip of paper off a cheap pad of 'post-it' notes and wrote on it:

Are unbelievers reading this?

Then I stuck it on my monitor. Then it fell off. Then I stuck it on again. Then it fell off again. Then I... well, you get the idea. The paper won and now it's just laying on my desk in front of my monitor.

I did that for obvious reasons. There are in fact unbelievers that read Christian blogs, and until last week, I actually forgot this fact. It's not a thing we should be forgetting.

Now... with that said, I'm rather undecided on what, and how much to share today. I had a topic in mind to write about this morning until I logged on and read my email.

When I first began to research the "emerging church" 14 months ago (seems like 14 lifetimes ago), and then publish what I was finding, the emails began. At first they were from pro-EC folks that "wanted to be my friend in the conversation" (their words, not mine, I don't speak that way). When they realized I didn't want to be their friend so much as I wanted to examine their doctrine and practices with the light of Holy Scripture - suddenly the gloves were off, with almost all of them. No longer did they want to be my friend, they wanted to cuss me out (you read that correctly), make accusations, insults, etc., so forth and so on. It's been interesting to note how ALIKE they all sound, in this.

Slowly, but steadily, the other emails began. "Thank you so much for what you're doing re: the EC, this has affected my life/family/friends/home/church..." and then they'd share stories about how this movement has found it's way into their own little worlds, and impacted their lives. It's almost always the same kind of story.

I wish they'd all let me publish them, I think folks might be truly shocked at some of the things going on under the banner of "being relevant/missional/authentic/etc. I've saved them all, and they are in fact what encourages me to continue shining the light of Scripture on the EC movement.

Now sure as the sun will come up today, someone is going to protest "you're broadbrushing! not all EC churches are like that!". This would be correct, some are far worse than others. The bottom line however, is the 1 common denominator which would be the arrogant departure/rejection from the final authority of Scripture. Once that's removed from the picture, it's a "spiritual-journey" free-for-all.

I received another letter this morning. The purpose of the letter was two-fold, like most of them are. A sister in the Lord sharing her story about how this has affected her family, and a word of encouragement to press on in exposing the EC for what it is.

Hands down, this has got to be one of the most, if not THE most heartbreaking letter I've received in the past 14 months. The sender went into quite a bit of detail, and if anyone read it, it would break your heart as well. The sender is a lady clearly filled with love for our Lord, His word, and her family. She has watched this spiritual-philosophical mumbo-jumbo come along and sweep family members right off their feet. Family members she was confident were grounded in the Word, and in Biblical Christianity.

Her letter to me said pretty much the same thing all the others say "thank you so much for what you're doing, sites like yours and Slice and others have helped me so much in understanding what this is... please don't stop posting this information... there are so many more of us out here with the same story!" On average, I get about 2 letters a week like this. That breaks down to roughly 50+ letters in the last year. I've never counted, but I think that's just about how many I actually do have saved in my inbox from folks. I'd be willing to bet Ingrid at Slice knows exactly what I'm talking about.

I shared all that to say this:

There are some folks out there who are hurting, with questions, seeking answers, angry, confused, etc. They are reading what we're posting - and they're reading with diligent eyes. Some are unbelievers, some are new believers or weak in the faith or even bold in the faith but not so eager to post publicly. It's important to remember that whenever we post, on whatever topic we post on. This was a good reminder for me today, so I just wanted to share it with you as well. If you're a blogger, rather than just a reader, remember that you just never know who is reading your blog and being influenced, blessed, helped, or possibly hurt, by your words.

Let's all remember to blog responsibly, and worthy of the calling.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Let's also not confuse lowliness, meekness, longsuffering and unity, for what it is not. It is not adopting some ecumenical approach, trading in truth for friendship, or sound doctrine for the sake of unity.

Just a few thoughts today...

More questions to ponder

Skimming through the 'sphere this morning, I see Phil has decided to take on cessationism. This is a good thing.

It's also a curious thing, since a friend recently asked me "how is it that MacArthur who is a cessationist, invited CJ Mahaney who is a charismatic, to speak in his church?". I do not know the answer to that question, nor do I know the details of the speaking engagment.
I do find it curious though.

Last fall I read a book by Mahaney and before I read the book, I had no idea he was a charismatic. Having read the book, and having 4 years of charismania under my belt, I can tell you that I certainly never saw any charismatic-red flags in this book. Those who know me know full well how skeptical I am over doctrine. I tend to read almost anything (doctrinal) through a seriously fine-tuned Sola Scriptura lense.

So I have to question, and I have questioned a lot, if there is a HUGE difference between charismatics, and continuationists? Myself, I am in fact a cessationist, and until recently I just automatically assumed there were only 2 sides to this issue - you're either a cessationist and that's that, or you're a charismatic and that's that. I'm not so sure that's nearly as accurate as I thought it was.

At the same time, reading the SGM site there is an annotation to their statement of faith in regards to the work of the Holy Spirit and what some of the more Pentecostal folks hold to. This does set off a few red flags to me, but I want to make sure I understand it fully, rather than just assume:

You can read the full statement here.

Since I first read this, as well as several others who've read it, the one question seems to remain unanswered:

Isn't it highly incompatible to connect the sovereign grace (Calvinism, tulipers, 5 pointers, whatever) with charismata? And what about this "third wave" position? From everything I've ever read on it, it in NO way is compatible with the beliefs of a Calvinist. So I just don't get it.

I really look forward to how Phil will address all this - cessationism v. continuationism (or charismaticism?)

Tuesday Ramblings

Well, it certainly has been a good day so far. School went very well after being off for 2+ weeks, and that was a huge blessing. Things don't always go so smoothly after a break.

It continues to improve, as I learned I won this highly coveted, and most prestigious award from Mr. Wiggly Eyebrow himself:

Best Potential Sidekick


With JIBBS and Gumm manning the shotgun for cent's blog, the obvious question is: who else would make a great sidekick for such a blog as this? Cubby Martinez nearly ate a whole bag of sour-cream-and-onion chips before he began his campaign to be the best potential sidekick, but cent reminded him that bad breath will not get one elevated from mascot to sidekick. Poor Cubby.

After Cubby passed out from the stomach cramps he got from eating that bag of chips, the rest of the committee reviewed the tapes for 2005 and decided unanimously that, for her ability to design and market cafepress merchandise and have the gumption to sell it at the highest retail price conscionable, the best potential sidekick of 2005 was Carla Rolfe. Please visit her cafepress store to congratulate her, and but a t-chirt while you’re there.

Now how exciting is that!? I know I'm thrilled to bits. Get it, nickels... bits? Okay, it wasn't that funny. It has caused me to consider lowering my prices though. I wonder if I'll get my mug on Frank's side bar like the others? If so, I want this pic there, it's so... ME!

Carry on...

ch-ch-changes

Today our Christmas vacation is officially over. We start school today - and for that reason the last week or so has been jam-packed with finishing up extra chores, getting books & supplies ready, putting away Christmas decorations, etc. It's been a busy week, I can tell you that!

One of the things I've wanted to do for a while now, was change the name of my store. I decided to do that at the beginning of the new year, and I've done just that. Scripscenes is now:

And the store design itself has also changed. It's a cleaner, more streamlined design, much easier on the eye. The store blog has also been changed.

I think I've managed to change all the links to the store, but I suspect I've overlooked something, somewhere (I usually do). If you find a dead link anywhere, please do let me know so I can fix it asap.

One other item to note:

Someone bought one of my books! YAY! I know that's likely not a big deal to most people, but it sure is to me. Since they were both published sales have been nearly non-existant (okay 3 book sales in 4 months - that's pretty meager, eh?). I'd sure like some feedback on this story. No one's ever left a comment, or a review, so I have no idea if people are enjoying it, hate it, tossed it in the trash, or what! Did you buy the book? Did I use too many commas? (you hush, Gummby!), was the story easy to follow?

Okay, enough questions. This has encouraged me to finish book #3. I was almost done editing the manuscript before Christmas. I must confess though, I did get rather discouraged after reading critiques of my punctuation, so if anyone would like to volunteer their manuscript proof-reading services for FREE, let me know and I'll send the manuscript before I publish. No, I am not kidding. Contact me here, and we'll discuss it.

Okay, I'm outta here - time to build a fire, make a pot of oatmeal, and crack the books!
:o)

The Button Jar Still Speaks

A year ago, January 23rd to be precise, I wrote about a speaking button jar. Yes, you read that correctly.

This was a jar that contained my mom's collection of buttons, and it spoke volumes when it came to the kind of person my mom is. To really get the full picture, you'll have to go read that post. I'll wait while you do that.

Have you read it? Good, now the rest of this post will make sense.

Last month my mom sent me a package for Christmas. Unfortunately due to a mix up with the mail, I didn't get the package until yesterday. When I opened it, this was what was inside. I had to laugh, but it wasn't a "oh this is so funny laugh" but a "wow, mom's button jar is still speaking all these years later". (You'll still have to read the original post to understand what that means).

Attached to mom's (now my) button jar, was this note.

This was quite likely the best Christmas present I have ever received. Like I wrote a year ago:

Here's to my mom... and her buttons. :-) She has no idea that goofy ole jar of molded plastic an left such an impression on me. Like most moms, I suppose she has no idea really, the impressions she left on me in many ways. There is a very good reason I still say she is the coolest mom in the world - and as far as I'm concerned, she always will be.If I can have that same affect on my children, I'd sure be happy.

Thank you mom, for my button jar. And thank you for being the coolest mom in the world.

((((( Mom ))))))

A Story of Pain and Grace

I want to take a few moments and share a bittersweet, true story with you. This story is unfolding as I type, and by the time I'm done, things might have already radically changed. God's will be done - and to Him be all the glory.

This is the story of an online acquaintance of mine, named Debi. More so, Debi's mother.

Earlier this year Debi's mother took ill, and was hospitalized for a few days. At the time she was misdiagnosed with an aneurysm, and 2 separate strokes. Since she was not able to return to independent living when she recovered, Debi and her family began making plans to move her mother in with them. This was not a light or easy decision, for many reasons - but it was one that Debi was convicted of, and her only desire was to obey the leading of the Lord on this.

Over the next many months, Debi's mom went through a series of treatments, therapies, medications and supplements. Because she was misdiagnosed to begin with, these things were not improving her medical condition. At least one medical professional told Debi her mother was "just not trying". It was a frustrating situation to say the least. There were countless times of prayer, tears, frustration, and exasperation. The "not knowing" was sometimes almost more than they could bear. Debi's mom recently told her she felt like she was in a cloud - she didn't know of a better way to explain it.

On top of this, Debi's mom had (at this time) been deeply involved in the Word of Faith teachings. For over 20 years, she became more and more entrenched in the teachings. At the early stages of her time in Debi's home, after being released from the hospital, she refused to entertain the idea of speaking of any "negative things" - she believed they would be speaking them into existence, if they were to do this. She believed her anointing oils and other various things (works) would be what would restore her health. Debi's father was also involved in these teachings, and he died believing he simply did not have enough faith, to be healed. It was heartbreaking to Debi, as she watched her father's desperation and anguish over this. Now she was watching her ailing mother go through the very same thing.

I need to explain here that Debi is a staunch cessationist and embraces the sovereignty of God in all things. For Debi to watch her mother cling so tightly to her works, and her rituals, was breaking her heart for her, knowing full well that the meager works we perform have no bearing at all in moving God's hand in our lives. Knowing full well it's simply a matter of trusting Him in ALL things, come what may. All this time Debi's mom was in fact clinging to her works and rituals, she was also professing that it's all the work of the Holy Spirit. It's truly a mixed bag of doctrine with the Word of Faith teachings.

Debi is a homeschooling mom, and she also listens to sermons online, through the course of the day. After her mom moved in with them, she began to be exposed to the kind of sermons and Bible study lessons Debi was listening to - as well as the Bible lessons she teaches to her children. One of the places Debi listens to these online sermons is a voice chat room where taped studies and sermons are re-broadcast into the chat room for all to hear. Debi would turn up the speakers and allow her mom to hear them as well.

One day, Debi's mom began to take notice. More than just take notice, she began to listen intently, and agree with what she was hearing! The turning point was when Debi's mom began to listen to the teachings on the distinctives of the Lord's true church. What she was hearing was truth she could not refute - but simply embrace and agree with. This was the door the Lord opened for Debi to begin discussing with her (gently reminding her) God's sovereignty. This all took place over the last few months, and today Debi's mom has completely renounced the false teachings she once held to. More and more as she began to understand the Bible's teachings on these things, more and more she was becoming more aligned with God's majesty and sovereignty in all things - His unchangeable nature, and what true faith really is.

This is news to be rejoicing in!! God perfectly orchestrated the events that led to this woman returning to the faith she once knew, and rejecting the false teachings she had welcomed, for a time.

The darker part of this story, is the misdiagnosis of Debi's mom. Just last week, the family learned that the true nature of Debi's mom's illness is in fact lung cancer, and 2 inoperable, untreatable brain tumors. The cancer is so advanced at this time, that her prognosis is only days, weeks at the very best, at this point.

At first, Debi struggled with bouts of anger (understandably), over this misdiagnosis. She learned that the cancer was in fact treatable earlier this year - and had it been properly diagnosed at the time, her mother might have had the opportunity to undergo treatment and have been receiving the proper medications. Through much prayer and much consideration, Debi came to this understanding (these are her words):

"Last night as we sat here and looked upon a new year beginning, HE gave us such comfort and peace. If we would have been working with the information we have now, we would have spent her last few months in and out of chemo, radiation and numerous other treatments-----we would have been focusing on the hope this world offers and the devices of men, rather than on HIM. Through all of this HE has had our focus on life---we have not been consumed with fears or death or dieing. In all the frustration of nothing making sense or fitting together with the diagnosis they handed us, we spent more and more time at HIS feet asking HE grant us more compassion, understanding, wisdom and patience. We asked that if mom was HIS that she return to Truth. He has been so merciful with all of us in this as HE has walked us through things we didn't even know were there."

She adds: "He is giving a peace I can not describe."

I wanted to share this with my readers here, so that you can join Debi and myself in rejoicing over God's providential mercy and grace - and so that you also might be led to keep this family in your prayers. Debi, her husband Shawn, their children, Debi's mom, the hospice workers, and all the extended family.

Hospice (which in my opinion is the most under-rated facet of medical care) is working with the family, and taking very good medical care of Debi's mom, in Debi's home. They're simply waiting at this point, and doing all they can to make her mother as comfortable as possible. Her mother said to her just a few days ago "He is calling me home soon".

Indeed He is, and she is ready to see Him.

Won't you leave a word of encouragement for Debi, and join me in prayer for this family? Debi visits this blog when she is able, and even though she doesn't comment, she will certainly take comfort in your kind words. I did send this to her and her husband Shawn before I posted, for their approval. It is their desire that in some way, and/or in all ways, God be glorified in all of this.

How's your hearing?

Last night at the dinner table, Kev, Jessica and me had an interesting conversation.

Me: "Let's say Charles Manson were let out of prison next week. Along comes some sympathetic Joe and says "well, he can come live with me and my family, after all, he never did anything to ME".

What's wrong with this picture? Well first of all, for those of you that might not know who Manson is, he was the boogeyman for kids growing up in the early 70's, on the west coast of the US. He was the man the grownups talked about in hushed tones whenever the kids would happen into the room, and the man that they didn't really want to explain to you why he was so bad. I wont go into detail about his crimes but you can read about him here.

Now back to the hypothetical situation:

"He can come live here, since he never did anything to ME".

Most people might think you a bit loose in the bean, thinking this way. Granted, the man in question might not have ever done anything to you personally, but with the well documented file on the man - proving beyond doubt that he's a raving lunatic - it would seem obvious that very few right-thinking people would have this perspective.

The reason I asked this question last night at the dinner table, is because this situation has actually come up twice recently, where the folks involved actually said those words, when warned about another individual. (No it's not Manson, to the best of my knowledge he's still safely locked up)

"Be careful with this one"... "oh, he's never done anything to ME!"

In both cases, folks were warned about people who are manipulative, cunning, slithery types of folks that like to cause trouble and then sit back and watch the fur fly, more or less. In both cases, numerous people have sounded the warning about these people - so it's not simply a matter of one person's opinion, or a "he said/she said" type of situation. In both cases, the folks who were warned said the exact same things:

1. "he's my friend" and 2. "well, he's never done anything to me!"

While talking about this last night Kev commented that in some cases people will do just about anything to protect a perceived friendship. Even if someone is the most horrible kind of person to others, as long as that person hasn't been horrible to them, they'll defend them.

Jessica commented that she thinks in cases like this, the one defending the "friend" will see the warnings come true, sooner or later. (Who is this child and when did she get so smart?).

I guess we can chalk this up to the adage "people never learn from other people's mistakes".

I think it goes deeper than that, though. I think it comes down to a pride issue, actually. I think, some folks refuse to take heed to warnings like this because 1. it's an insult to their discernment (i.e., they didn't see the red flags and they don't want you to tell them that they're there) and 2. the self-defense mode they go into is really just a matter of protecting what they see as belonging to them: the friendship.

In one of the cases I know of, one person asked "if this man were a convicted child molester, and was let out of prison - would invite this man into your home around your children, because he's never done anything to you?"

It's a valid question - but folks burying their heads in the sand in these cases don't want to answer such a question.

Of course there are all kinds of variables in situations like this, and all kinds of motives, spiritual issues, and other factors - each situation is slightly different and each person involved is at a different maturity level, etc., so forth and so on.

When thinking about this kind of scenario last night, the one question that came to mind was "why won't people listen?". The only answer I could come up with was "pride". And lest you think I'm pointing fingers here, rest assured I've been in the closed-ear category more than a few times myself. I don't ever recall learning from someone else's mistakes - I tend to make my own very well, thank you very much.

Pride takes many forms, and seemingly has countless inroads into our hearts, minds, and lives. It's a destroyer, and we tend to protect it like it were our only true ally.

It's a new year now - and one of the things I'd like to do more of is listen better. Listen more, listen more quickly, and listen more effectively. Look at this:

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19)

That word 'swift' there is the Greek word tachus and it means quick, or speedy. It's interesting that what is more common with people (myself included of course) is that we are so quick to react (speak) and often, far too often, far too slow in hearing. This verse in James exhort us to be exactly the opposite.

This is one of my goals for this new year.
I pray the Lord might be pleased to turn me into a speedy hearer.

Destination: forward!

Well here we are, 2006. In reality it's not much different than yesterday, 2005. However something about "the new year" always prompts us to take stock, re-prioritize, and at the very least make a mini-mental-list of "things" to do, or stop doing.

The blogosphere is a good example of that this morning, as I notice many blogs writing on this theme. Such is the case here today as well.

Some bloggers are making bold declarations of their plans for the new year. Plans for themselves, and plans for their blogs. I admire those who have the courage to make such announcements - because that means they know the readers will hold them accountable! I'm not sure I have that much confidence in myself, to do such a thing. I'm more of a project-starter-but-often-not-finisher, type of person.

Other bloggers, like Tim, are asking their readers what they'd like to see... more of, less of, sections done away with, etc. Tim has great courage to do this, knowing full well the usefulness and fruitfulness of a blog is often measured by the readers (i.e., if it's a blessing to others, or if it's a cog in the wheel). I could never in a billion years ask such a question, for fear that someone would fly to the comment button in breakneck speed to fire off a sentiment such as "how could you better this blog!? DELETE it you incompetant writer-wannabe!". Okay, I've never had such a horrid comment on this blog - but there was one - that came very close, once. It stung, no doubt about it.

So in this regard, here are my tentative, hopeful plans, for where this blog is going in 2006:

1. A new header pic at the first of each month. I like pics, and apparently so do most of you. When I changed the template last month I got a few finger-wavers at me asking where the picture went. I love taking scenery shots, so that's my goal for the beginning of each month for 2006. Something beautiful, something to bless you. Maybe even one or two that will just take your breath away. (okay, I'm not that good with the camera yet, but one never knows!)

2. More blessings, less ventings. This is the direction I'd like to go, but no guarantees on this one. Some days you might pop over here and see this BAD HAIR DAY ALERT!
and chose to click on by to another, more edifying read. Some days, there are some things I just have to write about, that might fall into the 'venting' category. Someone once said to me "so you don't write about flowers and sunshine all the time, so what, that doesn't mean you're not edifying all the same!". I liked that statement. I do like flowers and sunshine too, however. I'll try to bring a bit more of that to the table, for others who like flowers & sunshine as well.

3. More bloggerviews. These are so much fun! Some of the answers from some of the guinea pigs interviewees have been surprising. You think you know a blogger, and *boom* they blow you away with something you never suspected. Having a bloggerview here will NOT earn you massive traffic to your blog, nor will it propel you onward and upward in TTLB ecosystem (for that, you'll need linkage from this guy, this guy, this lady, this guy and/or this guy), but it will be fun, and we'll all enjoy it a great deal.

Do you have any ideas for a bloggerviewee? I have a list of folks I'm hopeful to interview in the coming months, but I'm curious about your ideas for this.

And... for better or worse, that's pretty much it. Nothing monumental, nothing really exciting or different to look forward to. Just, more of the same. :0) I will be adding a link here whenever I update the book blog (or any of my other blogs/ventures) but I do that already, so that's not really new. So with that said, here's something new for 2006:

Sweetheart Bear $14.99
Our plush bear is a cutie in his own message-bearing t-shirt and festive red ribbon. He’s a great gift for Valentine’s Day, baby showers, birthdays, get well-wishes, a pair of wedding bears, or any reason you dream up. Put a smile on someone’s face. Just grin and bear it!
• Soft plush fur
• 11 inches tall
• Red bow and t-shirt included

This adorable little bear, and other fun, new items in our new section: Sweethearts - Gifts for Your Valentine.

So there ya go! Happy first day of 2006! :0)