Perverted Freedom - Day 225

It seems that many Americans today have a perverted concept of freedom. It's about dishonoring authorities. Look at every blockbuster that comes out today. Every single one has disrespect of authorities and of parents of some extent or another. Freedom is getting rid of all authority. It's about tossing out the law and doing whatever feels right. Follow your heart, right? This leads to anarchy as well as tyranny.

This same perspective tends to be extremely popular in the church as well. Instead of throwing out the law of the state, it tosses out the authority of Scripture and the law of God. You can see how culture today is leading the church rather than the church leading the culture. It's following the same approach. So you see the same anarchy and tyranny intermixed in the church. Either you create a pastor who is the head honcho and a tyrant, or you have a community center instead of a church. 

To have freedom we need to have laws. We need to have good Biblical law. We don't create our own revelation or laws like humanism/Mormonism/Jehovah witnesses/etc do. If we do that, we come out with the anarchy and tyranny that all of these produce. 

It also amazes me that people sneer at laws in the Word of God and then curse the laws of today's country. It doesn't make any sense to me. 

Ultimately, grace saves and the law condemns. The law condemns the wicked. Through Christ we are free. But does this eliminate the need for law? Absolutely not. There are wicked people in this world. There has to be a system to keep order and punish evildoers. And the law that has been written and put into the Word of God by a God who is all good and all knowing, is the law that needs to be used.

Rushdoony's book "Law and Liberty" is a good resource and puts it better than I do.

Too Tire.... - Day 224

I need to find a quote because I'm too tired to write anything....

Zzzzzz...

Blessings - Day 223

Counting my blessings takes much longer than counting my trials. Yet, I like to dwell on my trials more. Ironic.. 

Sunday Verse - Day 222

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118:24

Saturday Quote - Day 221

The right manner of growth is to grow less in one's own eyes. ~ Thomas Watson

I Need More Sleep - Day 220

Ugh, I've been low on sleep for the last two weeks. I know it's not thankful Thursday, but I'm thankful for sleep right now. I'm amazed how much of a difference 6 hours of sleep compares to 9 hours. I can function at 6 hours, but I can't perform. It's really quite odd. I think that's why the saying "early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise" holds true. Not late to bed, early to rise..

Fourteeners are tomorrow/today, YAY! dv

Thankful Thursday and Chocolate - Day 219

Today I'm thankful for chocolate. Mostly because it's amazingly tasty. (Also the vast health benefits. ;-P) And I'm thankful for my ten thousand tastebuds so I can taste the chocolate. Plus I'm thankful for a sense of smell which further enhances the taste of it. And I'm thankful for eyes to see the brown chocolaty goodness. I'm quite thankful for hands to transport the chocolate to my mouth. I'm thankful for fingers that help grip the chocolate. I'm thankful for ears that allows me to hear the magical sound of the crinkling of the wrapper off of the chocolate bar.

God's given us an amazing number of senses. Each of them is exceedingly creative and allows us to experience life in quite a fabulous fashion. We serve an awesome God.

No Silver Platter - Day 218

Life doesn't hand itself to you on a gold platter. Or a silver platter. I think it likes to throw tomatoes at you though..

Computers - Day 217

FOCUS!

NOOO!!!! But I have a Facebook notification. :-(

FOCUS!

Okay... Oh wait. I need music.

Okay I'm focusing.

Wait, Gmail.

Focus.

But I have a great Twitter message I just thought of.

It's interesting, I'm slowly finding that it takes character to own a computer. I've treated it as a toy for too long. It's an incredibly powerful tool. I honestly don't know another tool that one person can use and affect the world on a large platform base with so little effort. But in order to be that person who uses it to affect others, create programs, write thoughtful articles, and even grow in your walk with Christ, you have to use it in a purposeful way. Just like in Spiderman where Spiderman is told that with great power comes great responsibility in the same way when you have a powerful tool it should be used responsibility. It should be used purposefully. Sit down and do what needs to be done. Maybe you even need to relax. But it needs to be done with purpose. Becoming a vegetable and going from one screen to another is not purposeful.

This is something that's been on my mind quite often lately. Thankfully I'm getting better at it, very sloooooowwwwllllllyyyyyyy. So said the man climbing up a thousand flights of stairs while on the fifth flight..

Personal Experience - What a Fallacy - Day 216

Our culture today decides everything on personal experience. The argument is that if you have experienced something then you are allowed to be the expert on it. To some extent that's true. When you experience something you do understand the ins and outs. But when you base your argumentation on personal experience you have a tendency to fall into anecdotal evidence. I.e. Smoking doesn't affect your lifespan because I met someone who smoked all his life and is now 114 years old.

In the end, you have to find rigorous evidence. You need statistics. For instance, let's say I wanted to write on divorce and how to recover from it. I could probably write a similar article to someone who has experienced divorce by looking at statistics, a great many personal stories, and have a rigorous look at everything to find a common thread.

The saddest part about anecdotal stories are the ones who say things like, "God abandoned me when I had cancer. But now that I don't believe in God, I'm fine. Therefore God doesn't exist." Some people do the exact same thing with the Scriptures. They use an anecdotal approach to hermeneutics in the way that they see Scripture.

Living in a very materialistic and selfish culture seems to be a large factor in deciding everything upon ones own personal experiences. Personal experience shouldn't be our ultimate source. It's well and good and how we tend to learn most things. But it should be put into its place. Our ultimate authority should be the Word of God.

Sunday Verse - Day 215

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ~ 2 Peter 3:8

Saturday Quote - Day 214

For there is no one so great or mighty that he can avoid the misery that will rise up against him when he resists and strives against God. - John Calvin

Back from Family Camp - Day 213

Yay! We're back from family camp. The best camp ever. Except now I'm sick. :-/ Anyways...

I used to wish events like family camp would never end. I just hated the saying goodbye. The fellowship of fellow believers is always a blessing. But eventually you have to say goodbye. That's what this world is going to be like. We live in a fallen world. Our bodies break down. We have to say goodbye to loved ones. But as Christians we have hope. This isn't the end. There is going to be a point where we don't have to say goodbye. And that's what I look forward to.

And I need sleep...

Thankful Thursday - Day 212

Today I'm thankful for people. I love people!! Most of the time.. :-P

Kindness? - Day 211

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. ~ Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Lessons I Learned in Mexico - Day 210

I just got back from Mexico! It was a good trip. We were able to go to Ciudad Meir. (Don't google it. ;-P It's a fairly dangerous city..) We were able to attend a homeschool conference. And we were able to fellowship with other believers. I also learned many good things. I figured I could talk about a couple of them here..

One thing that I learned is that you can really love those who don't believe all of the other three hundred and eighty-five points that you believe. We talked to many different people. I was kind of amazed at how even though people disagreed on many issues, and they were even foundational issues, yet they could spend time with each other. We're talking extended time with one another. And they still loved each other. o.0

It was a breath of fresh air. It seems like there are always 2-3 squabbles going on in my Facebook. Typically they're small issues. This person disses this person. This person gets mad at this person. There's a lot of straining at gnats and swallowing camels that tends to go on.

And yet these people who don't even necessarily agree on large issues can get along. There are disagreements, but the way that I saw them handled seemed to be in a loving manner. Part of it may be due to the fact that in America we have about 76% of people who call themselves Christians. While in Mexico, there are 5-7% of the population who would probably call themselves Christians. You just have less people who are Christians and if you're constantly get mad at those who disagree with you, you won't have any friends. While in America you have the ability to just move onto a different group. Or it could be that they just love each other like 1 Corinthians 13 says.

Another thing I learned is that I really enjoy spicy food.

Something else I learned is how materialistic America is. And how much we love ourselves. It kind of relates to the above thought. But sometimes it seems that Americans are so full of themselves that everything becomes about them. If someone questions them on their beliefs they just get angry and flustered whenever someone says they could be wrong. (I've done this a couple times.... <_<) Yes, somebody is wrong. But it's not about you. It should be about Christ. The reputation of Christ is what should be on the line. It shouldn't be you and your pride about to be hurt..

I also learned that I need to make sure my room stays clean. ;-P In Mexico, it seems nobody has learned how to clean their room. Everything is covered with trash.

I have to say that I'm thankful for all the moms who spend the time instructing their children in cleaning their room. It may even involve discipline. But it's so important. That character seems to be a very important part of life.

I learned many things. I was down there five years ago and things have changed. I've grown up. And I'm thankful God gave me the opportunity to go down there this year.

Murky Monday - Day 209

Today I got back from an 8 day trip to Mexico and I had an enjoyable and edifying time. I'm going to bed now.... :-D

Sunday Verse - Day 208

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ~ 1 Timothy 6:11-12


Picture of the Day:

Worried Weekend - Day 207

It's easy to worry. It's easy to worry about your future. It's easy to worry about your relationships. It's easy to worry about the little bumps on your face. But what will worry do for you? You become nervous, stressed, unproductive... and you literally waste time worrying about a problem that needs to be fixed, and then you make the problem worse by worrying about it. And then you can worry about worrying about it.

Psychiatrists call it a vicious cycle. Another word for it is "sin."

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." ~ Matthew 6:25-34

It seems like the root of worry comes down to the fact that you're focused on you and your own circumstances. You're looking the wrong way.

"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." ~ 1 Peter 5:7

Look unto Christ, and He will give you rest. 

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." ~ Matthew 11:28

So stop worrying. Look up. And walk in faith.


Picture of the Day:

You Need to Go the Distance - Day 206

It's easy for me to get emotional and then not do anything about it. Emotions don't seem to ever take me very far. I sometimes feel like I just want that emotional high. Almost like a drug, I want some emotional song about Christ to make me feel closer to Christ. Get a little drums going. Get that adrenaline pumping and then I'm all set to go. But it's a little like running. You can play that music and get your adrenaline pumping. But then 5 miles later I feel exhausted. I've exhausted all that adrenaline in the first 5 miles, and then with 10 miles to go... I collapse. Adrenaline and emotion is only going to take you so far. At some point you're going to have to train those muscles to go the distance. You're going to have to get beyond the milk of the Word and dig into some meat, at least once in awhile. ^_^

The charismatic seems to be a little too much about the feel. It's all about the emotion. You're passionate, but you're driven by the emotion rather than the actual Word. A little bit of a flash in the pan because there's not a whole lot of substance.

Reformed people tend to be the opposite. It's all very analytical and there isn't really much joy and love expressed for Christ... or each other, for that matter. Everything has been reduced to the five hundred points and which ones you disagree on.


I think there needs to be a balance of both the emotions and the mind. Passionate love for Christ is of course going to be expressed differently by different people. Some people are going to act with more charisma. Just because someone isn't as naturally loud and expressive doesn't necessarily mean they're loving God less. Generally those who plod along in quiet, and with a firm step, will be those who make it to the end. It seems like the people who come in and flash themselves around as extremely passionate about Christ, usually end up just being a flash in the pan... and then they go on to the next religion. But on the other hand, the quiet and reserved person could be dead and you never really know if they're dead or alive because when you check for life on them, you can't hear anything.


It's not our place to say who's saved and who's not. Our job is to hope all things. However, exhortation is important if you see someone going a way you don't think they should go. But you can't give a good exhortation without a strong relationship.

Ugh! it's so complicated.

I think we can conclude that the answer lies in Luke 10:27 - "And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”


Oh, and by the way.... did you notice it said your? Your heart, your soul, your strength, your mind... not mine, not my dad or my mom's, not some emotional charismatic or genius theologian.


You. 


P.S. I know I'm overgeneralizing and exaggerating in some of this post. Never forget I'm always trying to make a point. Always.


Balance. The Christian life needs balance. Anybody need a tight-rope?


Picture of the Day:

Thankful for My Dad - Day 205

Today I'm thankful for my dad. He's wonderful. I-- not being the most honoring son, of course-- don't always appreciate him enough. I'm thankful for his leadership. I'm thankful for his wise words. I'm thankful for his analytical mind. I'm thankful that he's willing to talk to me about the hard issues. I know it would be easier to ignore things. I know that it would be easier not to pastor a church. I know it would be easier not to do a daily radio program. I know it would be easier to not shepherd young guys. 


But he still does.


As I sit here thinking of the love he has shown towards me by investing in my life by countless hours of conversation, by mentoring me and loving me, tears begin to roll down my cheeks. I don't treat him as I should. I don't honor him enough.


At one point in my life, I looked up at my daddy and saw him to be a perfect man. I saw him as a giant with no flaws. As I've grown older, I have begun to see his imperfections more clearly. But while his imperfections grow to be more clear, the strong love and faith in God that he has becomes even more clear as well.


I see that he could have made way more money in engineering than he will ever make in ministry. But his heart is drawn to ministering to others. I know he has those around him who hate him and what he has to say. But when I have spent thousands of waking hours with him, I've come to know that he loves God and His kingdom. And I'm thankful that God has blessed me with such a dad.

Many children don't grow up with their father in their lives. I'm blessed beyond what I deserve.

Thank you Dad. I love you.


Picture of the Day:

Too True - Day 204

"The world will never starve for want of wonders, but for want of wonder." ~ G.K. Chesterton


Picture of the Day:

Internet Abuse - Day 203

You know, I think if people are going to argue they should argue in person. And I'm talking about serious arguing. It shouldn't be done over email, over the blog, or over a forum comprised of people who have never met. The internet removes the relational aspect of argument... i.e. the love for one another.


I think many people forget that an actual human being--a person created by God in His image--is on the other side of the abusive internet language.

So... either get into a room together and fight* it out or get out.

Get out of the forum. Get off the blog. And don't press "send" on that email. 

I've done it myself more than a couple times. I hope I didn't knock you over with the log that's sticking out of my face.


*1 Corinthians 13 attitude required.


Picture of the Day:

The Purposeful Life - Day 202

This life is short. I could be run over by a drunk driver tomorrow. I could fall asleep in my bed and wake up in eternity. I've always been inspired by Stonewall Jackson when he said, "My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that but to always be ready, no matter when it may overtake me." It is not for us to be afraid of men or disease. It is time for us to be courageous and full of life. Romans 8:31(b) - "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

God has given us all a purpose to fulfill. Some of us will live till we're 80 with many children and grandchildren who we've been given the opportunity to disciple. Some of us will die at 23 of cancer. Some of us will die at 18 in a brutal car accident. We do not know the time of our death. So let us fight to win the prize. Life is like a marathon. It can start out easy. It will get hard. It will be brutal at times. We'll cry in pain. We'll cry in joy. We'll laugh and joke. One thing we do know is that it will be hard. But why do we run the race? To gain the crown of everlasting life.

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." ~ 1 Corinthians 8:24-25

It's so tempting to run purely for that corruptible crown that will last us for several years. But to run for the incorruptible crown--and to win that crown--will last forever.


Picture of the Day:

Sunday Verse - Day 201

 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." ~ Galatians 2:20

Yayz! - Day 200

Yay, I'm up to 200 days of blogging. It's been a long journey. Filled with late nights and random writing. Thanks everyone who reads the nonsense that I sputter out. ^_^

Crazy - Day 199

Yay, I'm almost to 200 days. I've been reading through some of them and some of them are really random.

So, here's another one. ^_^

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with." -- Mark Twain

Thankful Thursday – Day 198

Today I'm thankful for happy people. A happy attitude is amazing to be around. They're happy, you become happy, it's a party. ^_^

Personality Complex - Day 197

I'm thankful there are different personalities. Life would be boring if there weren't. Some personalities are always in conflict with each other. Some personalities work in incredible unity with one another. But does that mean we only spend time with those who we don't fight with? I heard someone say that if you're never in conflict you're probably never communicating. Should you see a couple who is literally never in conflict as a good thing? I don't think so. At some time in your life you will disagree. The question is what do you do? The reaction tends to be either to either run away/attack/combination of both.


I'm thankful for the good examples I've had when people do react in a way that doesn't involve attacking or running. If you ever find someone who you can have a significant conflict with and then be able to, with humility and wisdom, work through it. Please treasure them. Someone who can forgive you is worth millions. Thank the Lord for them. They're precious.


"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." ~ Matthew 5:9


Picture of the Day:

It's Wonderful, It's Amazing, What is It?! - Day 196

I love hearing about new and great ideas. But one thing I love even more than hearing about them is seeing them. You can talk about how you're going to do something. It takes a few days to think about it and about ten minutes to talk about it. Maybe it is an ingenious idea. But to make an idea happen and become reality it will more than likely take a thousand times the amount of time it took you to come up with the idea.

Ideas are cheap. Producing is not.

Marooned - Day 195

I seriously need to start posting in the morning.. Oh wait... Ugh... I mean the morning of the day I'm supposed to post... ;-P

So the lesson of the day is don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Otherwise you'll wake up in the middle of the night in a panic. 

Lol.