March 31, 2010

Blog Header - March 30, 2010

It’s been a busy couple of weeks and I haven’t posted here very much lately. I apologize for that. I began to get inquiries into my health and mental well-being, so I thought I’d better post something so my friends know that I’m still alive.

I am alive. But if you look at the photo serving as the current blog header you’ll see the Francis Scott Key Bridge to the right. The building near the middle of the photo is the Key Bridge Marriott hotel. As I look up from my desk right now I am looking directly at the Marriott because it is directly across the street from my office, which from the vantage point of this photo is just slightly out of sight to the left of the photo. I took this photo from the Sequoia Restaurant on the other side of the Potomac River from my office. When I took this photo my firm was not leasing our current office building. If I had known I’d be working here I would have included our office building in the photo.

I will try to get back to blogging soon. The project I’m currently working on is expected to wrap up today. Perhaps my brain will recover enough to post something to the blog by tomorrow.

Or is intelligent thought not necessary? I guess I could ask Mary to post something if it’s intelligence you’re looking for.

Have a wonderful Wednesday! Hump-day! It’s all downhill from here. So go ahead and coast the rest of the week. You have my permission.

March 26, 2010

Baruch Ha Shem – and save your nation

O

ne of my favorite passages of scripture is the Shema—the command God gave to the people of Israel when he delivered the law to them. The Shema is:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9

Most of us have heard that command, but I don’t think we have taken it to heart. The promises God delivered along with the Shema are an integral part of it. In the following verses, Moses follows up the command with, “when the Lord your God brings you into the land ... then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. It is the Lord your God you shall fear.”

We are so prone to forgetting about God when things go right. Prosperity, good health, business success; these things make us feel invulnerable and we begin to forget about God. So God gave the Shema to his people. These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. He’s telling them, “this is so important that I want you to talk about it all day long—every day. I want you to wear my commands as jewelry. I want you to decorate your house with this.” By doing this, God’s people would be less likely to forget about God and what he had done for them.

Knowing that we are prone to bypass requirements, in verse 20 Moses says, “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘...The Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous ... before our eyes.... And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always.’”

God’s commandments are for our good. And when we forget to teach our children why his commandments were given, we are at least to be prepared to answer our children when they ask.

As I read in Deuteronomy this morning I was struck with the high tension levels in our nation at this time. And I fully understand the frustrations that are contributing to the vocal anger against our nation’s leaders. And I don’t condemn those who are speaking up in anger. Each person must get involved in our nation’s political process in the way they see fit.

But it seems that God’s people may need a different view of political action than the general public. Perhaps if we had done as God told his people; if we had proclaimed what God has done for us in the past; if we had spoken of these things when we rose out of bed, and when we walked down the street, and when we sat in our house, and when we went to bed.... Perhaps our nation would not be in the fix it is in now. Perhaps we should look at the current pain in our nation’s situation and think of it as a son asking his father, “What is the meaning of the rules God has commanded?”

Perhaps our political action should look exactly like evangelism.

 

March 25, 2010

Help Wanted - Position Available

Position

Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

Job Description

Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

Responsibilities

The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

Possibility for Advancement & Promotion

None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

Previous Experience

None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

Wages & Compensation

Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

Benefits

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Footnote: There is no retirement ... ever!

Anyone can give without loving, but no one can love without giving...

 

Blog Header - March 25, 2010

I took this picture of my wife and son a couple years ago when we visited Natural Bridge, Virginia, for a conference on adoption. We had a wonderful time at the conference and thoroughly enjoyed Natural Bridge. When I look at this picture it really amazes me because our son is now a few inches taller than my wife. My, how time flies!

March 24, 2010

Serious skillage

This guy is good!

 

March 23, 2010

March 22, 2010

Just thought it needed to be reposted

Change is made at the ballot box

“Obamacare”s has been passed and the bill now heads to the president’s desk to await signing to make it the law of the land.

Out-of-touch Congress Sounds Our Clarion Call to Take a Stand

 

March 21, 2010

Blog Header - March 21, 2010

I created this image for the worship lyric projections at our church a few years ago. This is one of my favorite images that I put to that purpose. The texture on the bongo skins is wonderful and I love the way it shows through the church’s logo.

 

March 19, 2010

Dear World

I

find it so hard to empathize with those who are different than I am. Recognizing this common human tendency, the folks at Revolutionary Media (Website | Facebook) of Portland, Oregon, have published Dear World to remind us that we have brothers and sisters in Christ who are homeless. This book is available as a free download from now until April 11th as part of a greater call to action.

Dear World is full of stories, examples, thoughts, inspirations, and challenges of how the body of Christ can begin to live as Jesus lived, and reach out to those in our very own communities. The book contains excerpts of letters written by the street community to the world. Readers will meet:

  • Miranda—a former meth addict who has found healing and restoration.
  • Jeremiah, a young man who, like many Americans, misjudged the economic stability and lost it all
  • and others

Their stories are paired with their portraits, and readers are given an eye-opening view of what life is really like on the street—nd how we can help people stay off it.

What is the call to action?

  1. Download - Download Dear World and tell your world about it. Retweet the link, or place it in your Facebook status.
  2. Do Something - After you read Dear World, do something to help the homeless. The ideas are endless. Whether you take a homeless person to lunch and hear their story, write your senator, or volunteer at a soup kitchen, the goal is the same. Get out of your comfort zone to help someone else.
  3. Document your story – Document your story with words and or photos, then email it to info@TheRevMediaProject.com. Revolutionary Media will post all the stories that come in to encourage and inspire others to affect this issue.
  4. Discover - Revolutionary Media is offering prizes to 3 of the stories received. These three stories must encompass the heart of reaching out as Jesus' hands and feet. The 3 prizes include: a hard-bound copy of Dear World [valued at $65], a softcover of Dear World [valued at $45], and two Dear World posters [valued at $20].

 

March 17, 2010

One man’s junk is another man’s art form

A coworker sent me the link to Incredible Shadow Art Created from Junk and I wanted to pass it along to you.

The shadows these pieces of artwork create are detailed and truly amazing. I’m not a fan of modern art, but I am impressed with these. I only wonder what the artists’ choice of medium says about our culture. With artwork titles such as “Life is Rubbish,” and “Dirty White Trash,” I think I can guess at the artists’ worldview.

 

March 16, 2010

Blog Header - March 16, 2010

T

oday’s header is a photo I took of the Natural Bridge in Virginia. Natural Bridge and a wonderfully scenic place with a large hotel and separate cottages for folks who stay overnight.

The Natural Bridge, as seen from below during the day

A few years ago, when Kim ran support groups for Adoptive Family Preservation, the parent organization (United Family Services) sponsored an adoption event at the Natural Bridge. It was our family’s first time visiting, although I had been there as a small child. We found Natural Bridge to be a fantastic place for families and for Christians.

Each night during the warm weather months, Natural Bridge presents “Creation.” The audience is seated under the Natural Bridge and listens to an orator read the biblical account of the six days of creation from Genesis. Each day of creation is choreographed with a classical music piece and a light show. The lights are directed at and around the bridge and the effect is stunning. I don’t think it would be possible to overstate the impact of this presentation—especially for those who believe in God.

“The Creation”

At the beginning of the show the folks in attendance were happily chattering with each other and the kids were playing along the edges of the seats set up for the show. By the end of the show the only sound you could hear was the sound of folks sniffing and wiping the tears from their cheeks. As the 500+ people people walked away from the bridge after the show had ended, hardly a word was spoken. It is truly an awe-inspiring site and one not to be missed.

 

March 15, 2010

You’re wrong!

Expecting too much of others

S

o often I expect those around me to live like they are perfect. I don’t necessarily hold myself to that standard all the time, but I expect others to live that way and tend to get upset when I find out that one of those people has lied or acted in some unethical way.

Numbers 23:19

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

So today when I read this passage from the oracle of Balaam it reminded me that these unethical behaviors are actually characteristics of mankind. We lie. We don’t follow through on our promises. We are disrespectful and self-serving.

God is not like us. He is God. Now ... I just need to work towards being more like him, and not expecting that others will succeed in that effort.

 

March 14, 2010

My prayer this week

Gimel

Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

Psalm 119: 17–24

 

March 13, 2010

Blog Header - March 13, 2010

I love coffee! I love espresso! I love lattes! I love cappuccinos! I even love the beans. I’m a total coffee fanatic.

So when I added my blog’s title to the photo of this espresso machine it just seemed to be a perfect match.

Now I’m gonna go make some espresso.

March 10, 2010

Blog Header - March 10, 2010

Skyline Drive rocks & snow

This past weekend our good friend, Tyler, visited from Lynchburg. He asked if there was anything we missed about Lynchburg and I quickly responded with, “the White Hart Café and the Lynchburg Market.” But there are a few other things we miss about Lynchburg, and this header photo is of one of those things we really miss—the Black Water Creek Trail.

The photograph doesn’t show the trail itself, but just a bird house that decorated one of the park areas along the trail. But this trail was one of the most scenic and pleasant walking and biking trails I have ever seen. And it was just a couple miles from our house, which made it wonderfully convenient. My son and I rode this trail regularly.

Tyler on Skyline Drive

Now we live in Front Royal, and we are about two miles from the entrance to Skyline Drive—one of the most beautiful tourist drives in the world. And we love driving along Skyline Drive and enjoying the scenery. In fact, I took Tyler to Skyline Drive to get a glimpse of the beauty—at least the beauty of the snow and the small glimpses of the distant scenery whenever a gap in the high walls of snow allowed a peek. It is breathtaking scenery, but not a great place to ride a bike if you’re as out of shape as I am.

We praise God that he moved us to Front Royal at this time, but there were some wonderful people in Lynchburg and some wonderful things about Lynchburg that we truly miss.

March 09, 2010

Elitism rejected

“A

re you jealous for my sake?” asked Moses. “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

Many of us avoid the Old Testament book of Numbers. It has a ton of numbers in it (go figure) and it employs massive literary repetition. Reading Numbers can seem quite tedious. But the book of Numbers has some very interesting things in it, and we miss those things if we don’t pay attention while we read.

This morning I read Numbers 11-13 and found an interesting interchange between Moses and his executive assistant Joshua the son of Nun. In Numbers 11 Moses gathers 70 of the elders of Israel around the tent of meeting and the Lord’s Spirit prompts them to begin prophesying. Two elders remained in the camp—they began prophesying as well, except these two were inside the camp where other people could hear their prophecies.

This turn of events disturbed Moses’ assistant, so a greatly disturbed Joshua the son of Nun went to Moses and plead, “My lord Moses, stop them.” In Numbers 11:29 Moses responds to Joshua, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

Numbers 11:26–30

Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

So often we forget that whatever authority we have within the local church was given to us by God. We begin to become territorial and we hold onto our perceived authority with a tight grasp. This puts us in natural opposition to anyone else who may be able to do the same job we are doing. You see this when music leaders try to keep musicians out of “the spotlight,” for lack of a better term, thinking that if folks get to know the other person the music leader may lose some degree of authority. It is seen when pastors try to quash ideas from the people in the pews, thinking that as the spiritual authority of that local congregation, the pastor must be the “idea person.” It is seen when bible study leaders don’t want to turn the teaching reigns over to another person—even when they are out of town for the week. It is seen when the newsletter publisher rejects offers of editing, design, or publishing help. In fact, this problem is probably spread throughout all areas of responsibility within the church. We humans tend to hold tightly to what we think is “ours.”

But Moses did not react this way. When Joshua came to him with this concern Moses said, “I think this is great. In fact, I wish everyone were doing this same thing.”

It’s a good lesson for us all—especially me. I tend to hang on to any web design duties with a territorial bent, and that is not a good thing.

But the story doesn’t really end there. In Numbers 12:2 Miriam and Aaron say, ”Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” So even though Moses was not territorial about his leadership, the accusation of territorialism still arose against him. And it arose from two people who were very close to him.

So did Moses oppose these two when they made this power-play? Not at all. In verse 3 we are told that “ Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.”

In the following verses God deals directly with Miriam and Aaron for their accusations and usurpation. In fact, God gave Miriam leprosy and after Moses plead for her life God allowed Miriam to be quarantined outside of the camp for seven days. She then returned and Israel was able to get back to their nomadic move to the wilderness of Paran.

I take from this that I should not hold so tightly to those areas of ministry God has blessed me with, thinking that somehow I have earned them. And that if others show jealousy or try wrest my ministry from me, I should leave it in God’s hands. God knows the right time for me to retire from my ministry and pass it to another and he knows the hearts of all of the people involved—including me. He will set things right.

 

I want this $50

A proposal to put Ronald Reagan’s likeness on the $50 bill is making its way through Congress right now. I think this is a great way to get folks to save money. I know I’d want a few of these in my wallet at all times—just to remind me what a great place this country can be.

 

March 08, 2010

Get your shirts here

I saw this shirt online and just had to share it with everyone. Stilton Jarlsberg (HopeNChange Cartoons.com), the designer of this shirt, says:

In the increasingly arcane debate over healthcare reform, a new issue has arisen which is terrifying House Democrats. Specifi-cally, they're afraid that they can't trust Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, or Senate Democrats.

There's been a lot of talk about "reconciliation" lately - a process which would supposedly consist of the House Democrats voting to pass the original Senate Healthcare bill (which includes the "Louisiana Purchase," the "Cornhusker Kickback," and special goodies for Floridians), after which the bill would enter "reconciliation" and be changed into something more palatable to the House. But the Republicans can attack and delay the bill if it goes to reconciliation.

Which is why a growing number of people think the real strategy is to trick House Democrats into passing the Senate bill by promising reconciliation...but then having the president immediately sign the original, corruption-filled bill into law. The House Democrats would be betrayed, and many would lose their seats. But Obamacare would immediately become the law of the land.

Frankly, the House Democrats think they're being set up for a donkey punch by the leaders of their own party. Because, in the words of Whitehouse spokesman Robert Gibbs, to make Obamacare into law the president will do "whatever it takes"...

March 07, 2010

Blog Header - March 6, 2010

W

e love the Maryland Renaissance Festival! Kim and I have been going to the festival since the year after we got married. So that means we have been going to the Maryland Renaissance Festival for more than two decades.

We took David the year he was born. I remember the teenager from our youth group pushing David around in his wheel chair that year. It really is loads of fun.

And it is one of the best places for photography I’ve ever seen. The people don’t mind that others are taking their pictures—in fact, they dress us special for the occasion, so they love to have their pictures taken. And the ones who dress up look great too.

I took the photo for this header banner a couple of years ago as we waited outside the festival for the gates to open. There are two stone lion statues flanking the main gates to the festival and this young lady jumped up to sit on the back of one of those lions. I took this picture and then her sisters and brother came running to have their pictures taken too.

 

March 06, 2010

Luna

W

hen I looked at this picture that I took from our front porch about a year ago, it reminded me of when my son was just a little guy. He loved the children’s TV show “Bear In the Big Blue House.” He even dressed as Bear one year for Halloween.

Bear had a lot of friends, including Tutter (the mouse), Ojo (the baby bear), and Luna (the moon). Luna was wise and grandmotherly. Bear used to go to Luna with his problems and concerns and Luna would give him comfortingly wise advice. My son loved Luna and quite often would talk to the moon when we were out at night. I guess some people might say this was looney. But we loved our little lunatic walking out the door of the house, looking up into the sky, and saying, “Hi, Luna.”

When we were still in Lynchburg this past spring, I noticed this huge and beautiful moon rising near the tree in front of our house. The moon looked huge in the sky just as dusk was beginning to set in. So I grabbed my camera and tripod and took this picture. The length of the exposure caused the tree leaves to blur as the wind moved them around. I think it just adds to the beauty of the scene.

 

March 05, 2010

The Bridegroom Cometh

M

ost of you know that my husband has been building a new house for us. Because I've been a contractor's wife for a couple of decades, I know there's no specific end date to a project. Weather, inspections, and the fact that things don't always go as planned all play into the project deadline. These are events that you can't control. So, I know better than to set a "finish" date. Still, I have to keep busy with the packing and cleaning. (We have renters moving in as soon as we vacate!!)

One of the unusual things that has happened with this house (yes, we've built several), is that Lance isn't letting me in to help or see it until moving date. Generally, I'm on the jobsite putting on coverplates and doorknobs, or cleaning. A few weeks ago, Lance quit letting me visit, and told me that I was like "the Jewish fiance" who's bridegroom goes off to prepare a place for her -- she doesn't know when he's coming back to get her, but she must prepare herself for the day. He's determined not to let me see the finished product until he's done. It's hard to wait!! I know each little step that's taking place, and I want to see it. I know what a talented builder he is, and I'm anxious to get in there and take a look at his magnificent work. Still, it's really romantic that he's doing this—I feel every bit as treasured as a real princess!

There's another place being prepared for me right now by another Bridegroom. He said that He was going to prepare a place, and He will come again to get us. He didn't tell us when He would be coming either, and it's been a really, really long time since He made that promise. But Jesus is a keeper of promises, and He will come back to get us. Meanwhile, we need to be prepared for when He returns to get us.

I specifically went to one of my favorite passages of scripture today, because the waiting to get into the new house is distracting. I can't seem to focus on anything else. My diligence in preparing for the move is starting to disappear as I grow weary in waiting with no specific end date! Colossians 3 is a great passage to remind me where my focus needs to be, and what I need to be busy doing. This should keep me pretty occupied while I wait...

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

When God shuts a door he opens a window

“W

hen God shuts a door he opens a window.” You’ve heard it before, right? So... where did this expression come from? I supposed we can’t really know, but here’s a theory.

Genesis 7:11-16

The earth started gushing out everywhere. The sky opened like windows, and rain poured down for forty days and nights.... On that day Noah and his wife went into the boat with their three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives. They took along every kind of animal, tame and wild, including the birds. Noah took a male and a female of every living creature with him, just as God had told him to do. And when they were all in the boat, God closed the door.

Remember the story of Noah? In Genesis 7 we are told that Noah did all that the Lord commanded him with regard to building the ark, putting the animals in, and gathering his family into the ark. Then the storms came. It got dark, the rain fell, and the waters began to rise. Then in verse 16 “God shut the door.”

One hundred fifty days later the water began to go down. After it had receded a decent amount Noah sent a raven out of the window. So God closed a door and opened a window.

I know. That’s not likely the origin of that phrase. But I found it interesting.

  • We tend to use the phrase when “life stinks.” Noah and his family were shut into an enclosed zoo with no chance of getting out. It probably didn’t smell all that good—at least in the area where the animals were kept.
  • We tend to use the phrase when we feel like we can’t get out of an unpleasant situation. Noah and his family were stuck inside the ark and could not get out.
  • We tend to use the phrase when life gets stormy. There never has been a storm as bad as the storm that caused the great flood.

What Is Sustaining Grace?

Not grace to bar what is not bliss
Nor flight from all distress, but this...
The grace that orders our trouble and pain
Then, in the darkness, is there to sustain.

—John Piper

Although Noah had done all the Lord had required of him, God still shut the door. But in chapter 8, “Noah opened a sindow to send out a raven.” God had provided a window, and Noah had to use it.

It might be a bit of a stretch to use this story to illustrate that the God who prepares trials for us also walks through those trials with us, but that is how this story hit me today. And whether we take the lesson from the story of Noah or elsewhere in the Bible, we know for certain that God is merciful, kind, loving, and he cares for us.

Just thought it was the proper frame of mind for today...and probably for every day.

 

March 03, 2010

Harass a conservative for your president

The Obama administration, ever searching for new ways to ignore the things they should be focusing on, has launched a web site to help the liberal Kool-Aid drinkers flood the conservative talk show phone lines. The web site’s introduction proclaims: The fate of health reform has been a focus of debate in living rooms and offices, on TV and online -- and on talk radio. And since millions of folks turn to talk radio as a trusted source of news and opinions, we need to make sure OFA supporters are calling in with a pro-reform message.

The web site includes talking points and tips on how to push health care reform on these shows. It even recommends that callers tell a personal story about their own issues with health care. I’m sure this will produce great classic stories such as “She had to wear her dead sister’s dentures” and “The greedy doctor cut off my foot instead of treating my diabetes.”

Sites recommended for bombardment by liberal callers:

  • Thru the Bible
  • Insight for Living
  • Mission Network News
  • The Albert Mohler Program
  • Focus on the Family

Isn’t it great to know that the Obama administration wants their liberal minions to bug Focus on the Family, Insight for Living, and Through the Bible? Good to know they’re filling their time targeting the proper enemies.

I’d recommend that we all make use of another feature on this web site—the form for reporting how your call went. It’s your turn now. Go to Organizing for America and use the form to let them know that you think they’re pathetic. Then encourage all your friends to do the same.

 

Is nature going nuts?

This past week there were major earthquakes in Chile, Japan, and Argentina. There have been major devastating mudslides in California and Uganda. We have just come through a series of record-breaking snowstorms in myriad places around the world. Tsunamis have become an increasingly worrisome thing. What in the world is happening, or perhaps what is happening in the world?

Matthew 24:3-8

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

I have seen forum discussions recently turning to the question of what these things mean. Why have there been so many natural disaster recently? Is it evidence of man-made global warming, as Al Gore proclaims. Is it the beginning of the end of all things? Is God angry and sending these disasters as punishments? I have seen all of these points of view (and many others) argued recently in regards to the seemingly crazy weather patterns and extreme storms.

Here in Washington, DC, we have an average snowfall accumulation of 16 inches. This year we have had more than 70 inches so far. So after riding in to work through yet another snowstorm this morning, I read the following:

Psalm 46:1-11

  1. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
  2. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
  3. though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
  4. Selah

  5. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
  6. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
  7. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
  8. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
  9. Selah

  10. Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
  11. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
  12. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
  13. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
  14. Selah

God is in control, even when things seem to be going crazy. And God controls all things—not just nature. We needn’t be concerned.

Be still, and know that I am God.

 

March 02, 2010

Blessings for obedience

T

he “Cuture Warriors” often use 2 Chronicles 7:14 to encourage folks to turn to God (See callout box). Many conservative Evangelicals who reject the culture war’s methodology correctly point out that 2 Chronicles 7:14 was meant for the national theocracy of Old Testament Israel.

2 Chronicles 7:14

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

When I first began to hear this back and forth debate between two groups of well-meaning Christians I was left with a helpless feeling. I didn’t know what we as a nation should do or what I as an American citizen should do to contribute to the prosperity of our nation.

Today I read a passage from Leviticus 26 that brought this discussion to mind. I’ll share the passage from Leviticus in a bit, but first allow me to explain my resolution of the debate about 2 Chronicles.

God is immutable—unchanging. God’s character demands certain things from all people and showers blessings on all people—both the believer and the unbeliever. Certainly God chooses to bless his chosen people through the ages in special ways and certain individuals and groups of God’s people are called to special purposes and special functions. But God’s overarching demands and blessings apply to all people.

This is the basis of moral laws in Judeo-Christian nations such as ours. Freedom of religion is a cherished right in our nation, but we still legislate morality and much of our moral laws are based on the Judeo-Christian scriptures.

This concept forms the foundation of my thought regarding the 2 Chronicles passage. God covenanted with ancient Israel that if they would “humble themselves, and pray and seek [his] face and turn from their wicked ways” that he would hear them and forgive them and heal their land. God’s character and immutable nature prompts me to believe that these same responses from people in our nation will produce a similar effect from God.

With that in mind, here’s what I read today:

Leviticus 26:3-7
“If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land. You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.

Encouraging words, indeed.

 

March 01, 2010

Summer’s almost here

Summer’s almost here. We can now see the deer moving around in our back yard.

Yep, won’t be long!

Okay—that’s not really my backyard and our snow is almost all gone now. But it’s still funny. And we did see some deer shoulder deep in snow in our back yard just a few weeks ago. I’m ready for summer.