More than I ask or imagine. . .

Photo Album

Hey Everyone, Check out my Photo Album called "Baby Jerry" on the left hand side of the website. Some of them include both of our families who came in for Jerry Donald's Baptism.

Enjoy!

Mobile Blogging.

Mobile Blogging. Moblogging is what I think they are calling it. Now computers are phones, I have to blog Jerry

The Christian Faith in the Age of Media

Reed Schuchardt is a professor at Wheaton and a contributor to the former Re:Generation Quarterly.  This is a chapel talk from Wheaton where he challenges our assumptions of and devotion to technology.  Although I do see the amazing irony that I am posting this on my Blog and my Facebook, I believe that his re-reading of Biblical text is a profound step for a new generation of Biblical Interpretors.  Also, beware he does poke fun at Facebook and Twitter.  

Check it out here from Wheaton

Meet David Powlison at the Soverign Grace Website

David Powlison was one of my professors from seminary, and he has shaped much of my thinking about ministry and conseling.  Over at Soverign Grace's website, David gives a 4 part interview that is helpful and will get you to read more of his stuff. 

Happy Reading.

March Madness

Okay,  I have filled out my bracket but I cannot decided between the winner for the final game.

I believe that the Final will be Memphis and North Carolina.  I go back and forth on who, but I think that I am on the same page as the President with North Carolina.  However, I will cheer for Memphis

Another Cowper Classic

April 25, 1800  William Cowper penned this classic after a severe battle with depression and doubt.  It is from the famous Olney Hymn book that he wrote with John Newton.

There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Immanuel's veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away

Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are saved, to sin no more

For since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme
and shall be till I die

When this poor lisping,
stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I'll sing thy power to save

Why I Love Netflix #9

Okay, this is a simple one. 

#9 Regional Distribution.  This may seem as not a big deal, but because they have regional shipping I can keep the One at a Time Plan and get the next DVD is in 2 days.  Hesed and I are watching a whole TV series from Pilot to Series cancellation, which is over 5 seasons.  One disc at a time with 2 days in between is perfect. 

Poet of the Christian Worldview

William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) was a famous British poet and friend of John Newton.  He struggled most of his life with depression, along with doubts and fears.  Far from being that false joy of plastic Christianity common today.  Cowper's poetry rings true to me in my deepest and darkest times.  My favorite at times when I struggled has been, God Moves in Mysterious Ways.  I never heard the hymn, but the poem hit me and strangely comforted me when I have been the most sad or the most angry before the face of God.  Here it is:

God Moves in Mysterious Ways

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

William Cowper (1731–1800)

Ron Paul criticizes his own Party

As some of you know, I am a fan of Ron Paul.  Though I am not convinced of all of his positions, I respect his principles and integrity.  His Texas Straight Talk goes after the politics of earmarks.  It has been the talking point of Republicans that Obama's buget is full of earmarks, but here Ron Paul hits back at this politics of posture. The major issue here is that Congressman Paul is attacking the Republicans from the right. They are not conservative. Here is an exerpt:

 To be sure, if earmarks were the driving force behind explosive government spending as some have been led to believe, that would be a good reason for all the fuss. The misconception seems to be that members of Congress put together a bunch of requests for project funding, add them all together and come up with a budget. The truth is, it is not done that way. The total level of spending is determined by the Congressional leadership and the appropriators before any Member has a chance to offer any amendments. Members’ requests are simply recommendations to allocate parts of that spending for certain items in that members’ district or state. If funds are not designated, they revert to non-designated spending controlled by bureaucrats in the executive branch. In other words, when a designation request makes it into the budget, it subtracts funds out of what is available to the executive branch and bureaucrats in various departments, and targets it for projects that the people and their representatives request in their districts. If a congressman does not submit funding requests for his district the money is simply spent elsewhere. To eliminate all earmarks would be to further consolidate power in the already dominant executive branch and not save a penny.

Furthermore, designating how money is spent provides a level of transparency and accountability over taxpayer dollars that we don’t have with general funds. I argue that all spending should be decided by Congress so that we at least know where the money goes. This has been a major problem with TARP funding. The public and Congress are now trying to find out where all that money went.  

The real issue is that the overall budget is too big, by far, which is why I always vote against it. But attacking the 1 percent that was earmarked solves nothing. The whole issue is a distraction from the real problems we face, which are that the Federal Government will absorb over 1/3 of our country’s GDP this year and taxpayers are forced to fork over more than half their income to fund government at all levels. On top of that, the national debt is $11 trillion, which is $36,000 per citizen. The recent increases in bailouts, government spending and money creation is going to hobble our economy for decades. We must curb the government’s appetite severely if this country is ever to thrive again. The noise over “earmarks” is a red herring and a distraction from the real issue of uncommitted spending.

Prayer for Baptism

My son, Jerry Donald, is being baptized today, so today I woke up with this prayer in my head.

Father, Thank you for the Sacrament of Baptism, and how you give us Grace in the Name of Jesus, how it unites to him by being named in the Trinity, how we are engrafted into his Body, the Church, signifying and sealing the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, by his Holy Spirit.

I have studied Baptism for many years, but now only beginning to understand its power.  You gave this son to us out of your mere pleasure and grace.  He is more than just fortunate, He is blessed.  I am humbled by the gift of your Son, and the gift of my Son. I know I will mess up, get angry, tune out, and even hurt him, but, Lord, please let Hesed and I show him that life is not found in us, but in the glorious hope that we have in Christ.  You know our sin, and I pray that we would always come back to you with new repentance and new faith, so that we can be the parents who train Jerry Donald up in the way he should go.

Father, may Jerry Donald never know a day that he does not know your love.  That your forgiveness is bigger than all his shame, all his sin, and all his trouble. I pray that this Baptism today would echo throughout his life.  That your Spirit would be with him as he learns the Scriptures, memorizing and studying them, so that he can know where to find your voice, over the voices of unbelief and death that run rampant in this world.  That his prayers would be answered according to your Wisdom to teach him who you are.  That he would honor his family, respect women, and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.  That one day, he would be ready to give a reason for the hope he has when asked or challenged.  That he may one day become a tender husband and humble father walking in repentance and faith.

Lord, there are many challenges, but today you mark out Jerry Donald through Baptism, and that it would be your pledge to him, that you will be his God and he will be a Son adopted in Christ.  Hear my prayer not based on my works or anything that is within me, but only on the basis of your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forevermore.