semper reformanda

Fall 2009

2010-01-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

2010-01-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve 2008

2009-01-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

Win Ergo!

2008-12-02T07:03:00.000-08:00

Enter here!

Miriam Anne

2008-06-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

June 5, 2008

8lbs 1oz 20"

Maui 2008

2008-04-18T06:47:00.000-07:00

Surprise!

2008-04-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm still alive. Some people were wondering if I fell off the face of the planet when I got married, but no, I'm still here. Jason and I are expecting our first little one around June 1st. We decided to wait to find out if it's a boy or girl, and so far, I'm so glad we have! Lord willing, we're going to have a home birth with a midwife and my mom. I'm super excited, ok.... and a little nervous. Will keep you updated...

How have you all been?

2006-04-20T19:54:00.000-07:00

To my faithful readers, to explain why I have been so infrequent in my blogging: please click here.

Curua, Brazil

2006-03-23T20:28:00.000-08:00

Grace, me, Debbie, and Hannah working in the cement...ahh...good times

Is There Anybody Out There?

2006-03-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

Sometimes while I'm driving
Trying to find my song
Looking for the answers
And where I do belong
Finally the children are
Bringin' me back home

Ooooooooh Ooooooooh Ooooooooh
Is there anybody out there
Does anybody care
Are the people really there
Ooooooooh Ooooooooh Ooooooooh
Is there anybody seeking
Does anybody see
Or are they deaf and dumb like me

Sometimes when I'm drivin'
Lookin' for my song
Lookin' for the answers
And where I do belong
Finally the children are
Bringin' me back home

Ooooooooh Ooooooooh Ooooooooh
Is there anybody out there
Does anybody care
Are the people really there
Ooooooooh Ooooooooh Ooooooooh
Is there anybody seeking
Does anybody see
Or are they deaf and dumb like me

Sometimes when I'm drivin'
Still lookin' for my song
Lookin' for the answers
And where I do belong
Finally sweet Jesus is
Bringin' me back home

Ooooooooh Ooooooooh Ooooooooh
Is there anybody out there
Does anybody care
Are the people really there
Ooooooooh Ooooooooh Ooooooooh
Is there anybody seeking
Does anybody see
Or are they deaf and dumb like me

Ooooooooh Ooooooooh Ooooooooh
Is there anybody out there
Does anybody care
Are the people really there
Ooooooooh Ooooooooh Ooooooooh
Is there anybody seeking
Does anybody see
That he died upon a tree

~Burlap To Cashmere

Israelology

2006-03-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

I'm reading a book by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum titled, Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology.

It is very interesting. The definition of Israelology is:

A subdivision of Systematic Theology incorporating all theological doctrines concerning the people of Israel.

Basically it takes on both dispensationalism and covenant theology to look at the significance of Israelology.

Fruchtenbaum is very much into how Israelology relates to end times.

There are some subtle theological differences between his doctrinal worldview and mine which makes it a bit more interesting in studying this new "missing link" in systematic theology.

If any of you have some spare time (like I do...NOT!), pick this up, give it a gander, and see what I'm talking about.

Amazon River, Para, Brazil

2006-03-06T13:46:00.000-08:00

Mmmm...

Beautiful, eh?

4 of my favorite things

2006-02-28T11:07:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been tagged. Adam from Proclaiming the Sovereignty of God blog has tagged me to do the 4 things list. So, here goes.

THE 4 THINGS LIST

4 Jobs I've Had in My Life

Babysitting (informal; for families in my church)
Christian bookstore (formal; great experience)
Grocery shopping (formal; Shop-4-You, my own business)
Powerpoint person (formal; worship set for church)

4 Movies I Could Watch Many Times in a Row

Wild Hearts Can't be Broken
Emma
Pride and Prejuduce
Braveheart

4 Places I Have Lived

Yorba Linda, Orange County, CA
Corvallis, OR
???????, OR
Santarem, Brazil

1 TV Show I Like to Watch sometimes :)

Lost

4 Places I've Been on Vacation

Disneyland, CA
Brookings, OR
Alter Da Chao, Brazil
Washington DC

4 Websites I Visit Daily

www.juno.com
www.mtashland.com
www.weather.com
www.gmail.com

4 of My Favorite Foods

Mexican (Si Casa Flores, Casa Ramos, Senor Sams)
Italian (Olive Garden, home!)
Mongolian BBQ
Guacamole :)

4 Singers/Singing-Groups I Can't Live Without

Matt Redmen
Simon & Garfunkel
America
Caedmon's Call (good call, Adam)

4 Places I'd Rather be than Here

Cabasa Donca, Brazil
Jase's
Oceanside, CA (Grandma's)
Portador Da Luz, Amazon

4 People I'm Tagging

Jason (from All For His Glory)
Ana (from Singing Grace)
Brian (from Reformed Centurion)
Stephen (from ????????)

Kitten Cannon

2006-02-27T21:26:00.000-08:00

Kitten Cannon

Who is the "Simon Cowel of evangelicalism?"

2006-02-27T17:24:00.000-08:00

Calvinist Gadfly writer and musician, Steve Camp. Read more here.

It is my duty

2006-02-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

Get your position here

We're going to the chapel...

2006-02-08T09:34:00.000-08:00

While visiting The Master's College in Santa Clarita this past weekend, I listened to Dr. Varner speak in chapel. He is the first in line of some faculty doing a series on the Church. He introduced us to some major ways postmodernism is showing up in the Church today, the tensions which are in question, and the biblical metaphers patterned for us in the book of Ephesians.

Postmodernism in the Church:

The ME Church
The EM Church

There are tensions in Church life:

The tension between Contemporary and Traditional
The tension between Performance and Participation
The tension between Teaching and Exhortation
The tension between Honesty and Hypocracy

Three Metaphers for the Church in Ephesians:

A Building (2:19-22)
A Body (2:16; 3:6; 4:4; 4:12; 4:16)
A Bride (5:25-32)

At one point during Dr. Varner's speech, he said this, "Accept everything that happens to you as good, because everything comes from God."

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Dr. Varner both in chapel and in his Old Testament Survey class.

His Glory Fills the Sky

2006-01-28T08:52:00.000-08:00

On the Arapiuns River, butterflies flutter by
They dance over the waters, and fill the sky
In the village of Sao Miguel, they radiate God's glory
They surround us as we listen, to the pastor's story

An illness left him paralyzed, for over a year
God humbled him and sent, an angel near
He touched the man's legs, and they were healed
Then a butterfly annointed him, and with the Spirit he was sealed

His glory fills the sky
His presence in this place (2x)

His glory fills the sky
May you receive God's grace

As a caterpillar is transformed, into a beautiful butterfly
We are reminded, of how You change our lives
Glory to Your name, for the work You've done
We pray that You will renew, more lives in the Amazon

His glory fills the sky
His presence in this place (2x)

His glory fills the sky
May you receive God's grace...

2006-01-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

Found this prayer I wrote to God while going through my collection of theological articles.

March 25, 2003

"Oh Lord God, how great You are!
Your knowledge is immediate and simultaneous,
Your comprehension is always complete,
Your decree is simply one comprehensive plan, embracing all that comes to pass,
In this I rejoice!
You, God, have in Yourself all possible causes and results,
You chose what You wanted to bring to realization, and thus formed Your eternal purpose,
What is there that You do noot know?
Does anything surprise You?
No, there cannot be anything that comes to pass that You have not ordained.
To You be glory evermore, Amen."

(Much of this was inspired and taken from Berkhof's Systematic Theology; The Doctrine of God: The Divine Decrees in General, pg. 102)

After reading this, I picked up Berkhof and flipped through it. I forgot what it felt like to be immersed in such rich theological language. It is like getting high on God's glory. We should be intoxicated by it. It is always profitable to the soul to read on God's attributes.

2006-01-24T09:51:00.000-08:00

Soli Deo Gloria

This is for you, Jason and Brian.

:)

2006-01-24T07:21:00.000-08:00

It's huge!!! Very cool...thanks to whoever was so clever to leave this on my car. It will forever bring a smile to my face. Good times, good times...

:~)

This is worth my life, that is, the Gospel

2006-01-23T20:39:00.000-08:00

It's becoming so clear for me. I know my purpose in life. I must go back to Brazil. It has been fuzzy for some time now. However, God has just been pounding it into my head and heart....Brazil is where God wants me. This is my fulfillment in life. This is not something I could have planned or wanted to. Honestly, when I first got back from my three-month stay on the Amazon, I wasn't sure if I could go back emotionally, and physically. Now, though, it is clear that I can't not go back. As I write this, my body is full of shivers. Not shallow shivers, but ones full of the realization of God's providence in ordaining all this to come to pass in my life. I posted a quote from John Piper a couple days ago. He said, "Do what is right, given what you can see to do, and let the chips fall where they will, and God will make a life for you and it will be wonderful." So, given what I see to do, this has got to be it. I don't know if I've felt this strongly about anything else before. While I was driving, God put these words into my head, "Find something worth dying for and start living for it." The truth of the Gospel is it. It is so worth dying for it, that it is what I want to live for. May God be merciful to me. May His will be done in my life. May I do His will only, not mine. Purge from me any selfish ambitions, Father!

Oh, the glories...

2006-01-22T21:38:00.000-08:00

...of ultimate frisbee.

A group of us went and played some tennis and UF. While going for a fast throw, the disc sliced my middle finger. Okay, so my precious disc was cracked...thanks, guys.

Note: This picture does not accurately depict the real grotesque hand I now find myself possessing.

True Love

2006-01-22T20:09:00.000-08:00

Perfect

Guilty: I found this on TheOoze.com site...

A Pastoral Quiz

2006-01-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

A Puritan's Mind has a good questionnaire for pastors. However, I thought it was helpful as a guide to look up useful information on the Bible and theology.

Child of Providence

2006-01-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

In 1806, Alexander Duff was born in Scotland. By age 24, he headed over to India to minister through education. God spared his life even through two shipwrecks on his way to there. He served almost 40 years in India. At the end of his life he wrote a letter to his daughter which read,

"Why should I, who have been the child of so many mercies, be faithless or doubting? If any man living should trust the Lord absolutely, I am that man. All my days, I have been a child of providence. The Lord leading me and guiding me in ways unknown to me, in ways His own and for the accomplishment of His own heavenly ends."

In reflecting over his own life, John Piper says,

"I didn't plan any of this. Don't think you can plan your life! Don't even think about it. Take it one step at a time and do what is right, given what you can see to do, and let the chips fall where they will, and God will make a life for you and it will be wonderful."

Resolved: 2006

2006-01-19T11:11:00.000-08:00

Carolyn Mahaney: True Beauty

Why do we chase after physical beauty?
-We lust for success, love, approval, and acceptance.

It is from the deep depths of sin in our hearts. Wickedness in our heart.

It does not produce happiness. Physical beauty does not = happiness. Many of even the most beautiful women in the world with perfect skin tone, body shapes, and Covergirl faces are not happy.

We must ask ourselves: Has my heart been captivated by the world’s expectation of beauty? Or, has my heart been captivated by God’s expectation of beauty?

Well, what is God’s expectation of beauty?

Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

There is a beauty we are called to in Scripture.

1 Peter 3:4 “But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.”

“A gentle and quiet spirit.”

It’s what’s on the inside that matters.

It’s a beauty only God can see. This is extremely precious to God. This is a spirit which fears God and serves others.

Self-disciplined for the glory of God.

Do we have a preoccupation with self or God? Are we seeking our own glory or God’s glory?

Colossians 3:1 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

Set your mind on Jesus.

Make the Lord the object of our affections and attentions!

Goals:

1. Acknowledge God’s providence.
Be grateful for how we’ve been created. A loving God determined long ago how we would be designed.

2. Recognize that my body is not my own.
It belongs to God. It is His holy temple.

3. Make it my ambition to serve others.

John Piper tells this exemplary story.

Evelyn Harris Brand, the mother of Paul Brand, the world-renowned hand surgeon and leprosy specialist, grew up in a well-to-do English family. She had studied at the London Conservatory of Art and dressed in the finest silks. But she went with her husband to minister as missionaries in the Kolli Malai range of India. After about ten years her husband died at age 44 and she came home “a broken woman, beaten down by pain and grief.” But after a year's recuperation, and against all advice, she returned to India. Her soul was restored and she poured her life into the hill people, “nursing the sick, teaching farming, lecturing about guinea worms, rearing orphans, clearing jungle land, pulling teeth, establishing schools, preaching the gospel.” She lived in a portable hut, eight feet square, that could be taken down, moved and erected again.

At age 67 she fell and broke her hip. Her son, Paul, had just come to India as a surgeon. He encouraged her to retire. She had already suffered a broken arm, several cracked vertebrae and recurrent malaria. Paul mounted as many arguments as he could think of to persuade her that sixty-seven years was a good investment in ministry, and now it was time to retire. Her response? “Paul, you know these mountains. If I leave, who will help the village people? Who will treat their wounds and pull their teeth and teach them about Jesus? When someone comes to take my place, then and only then will I retire. In any case, why preserve this old body if it's not going to be used where God needs me?” That was her final answer. So she worked on.

At the age of 95 she died. Following her instructions, villagers buried her in a simple cotton sheet so that her body would return to the soil and nourish new life. “Her spirit, too, lives on, in a church, a clinic, several schools, and in the faces of thousandsof villagers across five mountain ranges of South India.” Her son commented that “with wrinkles as deep and extensive as any I have ever seen on a human face…she was a beautiful woman.” But it was not the beauty of the silk and heirlooms of London high society. For the last twenty years of her life she refused to have a mirror in her house! She was consumed with ministry, not mirrors. A coworker once remarked that Granny Brand was more alive than any person he had ever met. “By giving away life, she found it.” This is what happens, paradoxically, when ministry is more important than life. (Future Grace, John Piper, p 288)

One word: Explosive

2006-01-17T23:37:00.000-08:00

2500 18-35 year olds with passion for the supremacy of Christ and the sovereignty of God in one place at one time. Explosive.

New Album

2006-01-17T23:30:00.000-08:00

Caedmon's Call has just finished their second worship album, In The Company of Angels II - The World Will Sing. You can pre-order it on their website.

Resolved: 2006

2006-01-17T22:55:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah...it was awesome. More than that though, God is awesome. In these next few days I will be posting about the sermons given at the conference along with some pictures. This is a picture of my friend, Jessie (Jason's sister) and I waiting for the next preacher. The simple outline for posting will be this:

Rick Holland: Resolutions
John MacArthur: Prodigal Son (God's joy is greatest in redemption)
Carolyn Mahaney: True Beauty
Steve Lawson: Narrow Gate (the best gospel sermon I've ever heard)
C.J. Mahaney: Extravagent Devotion
Rick Holland: The Sacrifice of Isaac
Steve Lawson: Sovereign God
C.J. Mahaney: Sovereign Love
John MacArthur: Sufficiency of Scripture

(L-R) Holland, MacArthur, Lawson, and Mahaney.

My hope is to write a bit about each sermon in the coming days. If I can't get to all of them, I'll pick my favorites (which is going to be hard to do).

God bless!

2006-01-12T11:21:00.000-08:00

I'm heading out for the Resolved Conference. God willing, I'll be back and blogging next Tuesday. May God richly bless you this weekend! And remember...

Soli Deo Gloria!

...And now back to our regularly scheduled theological posts...

2006-01-10T16:31:00.000-08:00

"My brethren, let me say, be like Christ at all times. Imitate him in "public." Most of us live in some sort of public capacity—many of us are called to work before our fellow-men every day. We are watched; our words are caught; our lives are examined—taken to pieces. The eagle-eyed, argus-eyed world observes everything we do, and sharp critics are upon us. Let us live the life of Christ in public. Let us take care that we exhibit our Master, and not ourselves—so that we can say, 'It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me.'"
—Charles Spurgeon

Guys...listen up!

2006-01-09T16:54:00.000-08:00

"From nine years of watching the single scene at Bethlehem I'll tell you what I see and what I hear: there are a lot of intelligent, attractive, spiritual single women in this church who are not church hopping to find husbands and who trust God enough to be a happy single person if that is God's will. But 99% of these women would not mind it if a group of guys in this church took the initiative to get together with a group of them. (Twins game. Picnic in the park. Rent a good video and have pizza. Visit old-folks home. Take some inner city kids to the zoo.)

I stress the group approach just because the emotional stakes of being rejected are so much higher when you go it alone. It seems far more natural and helpful to me to let individual relationships grow out of a lot of group gatherings. And in both kinds of relationships it is the men who bear the responsibility for the pattern of initiative.

(And don't let your fears and inadequacies hinder you. The first time I ever tried to put my arm on the seat behind Noel I elbowed her in the eye. And look at us! Twenty years of marriage and I can hardly wait for her to get back from Guatemala.)" ~John Piper

Yes! Take it from a 19 year old gal: we love it when guys take the initiative. Now, I understand that us gals can make it difficult sometimes for you guys to take the lead. However, just do it! Don't let fear get in the way. Don't think that maybe the gals won't want you to take the lead. Maybe they don't, but they should want it, so do it. Be the man, and then maybe we'll be women. :~)

EDIT: Just for clarification: This post was intended to encourage GROUP activities. I am NOT suggesting that we need more one-on-one relationships. At least not among my real-life friends.

The Wedding

2006-01-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

Well, it's happened. I never thought this day would come. I'm officially...full. My friend, Rebekah, has finally tied the knot with John. Maybe I shouldn't say "finally." She is only a couple months younger than I. She turns 19 in 5 days.

This is the first wedding I've been to when they've been my own age. I can't imagine getting married now. Well, maybe if there was the right guy...anyway, they are super-happy :)

And my stomach is happy. The cake was delicioso! (That means it was very, very good. I'm a tough critic. Not much of a cake fan...just give me some guacamole and chips and you'll make me happy :)

May God bless these two with a God-centered marriage!

"God has designed this trial for my good"

2006-01-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

Just found out last night that John Piper has just recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer. You can read his God-centered, Christ-exalting letter here. Please pray for him and Noel.

John's books, DVD's, and CD's have been a huge part of my life. His passion for the glory of God and the supremacy of Christ is infectious. May the grace of God ever shine on him.

Thanks, Jo, for bringing this to my attention.

2006-01-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

Resolved Conference

I'm so stoked!!!

Prophecy Update

2006-01-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I am just now remembering this. We had our annual prophecy update last Sunday. You just have to know what's going to happen:

Jesus is coming back
No one knows when (hence the "thief in the night" bit)
Live like it's today

Hope you guys can get back to your regularly scheduled day.

2006-01-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

Why Evangelism makes sense from a Reformed Perspective

1. Evangelism is the activity of publishing, or announcing, the "evangel" or, the gospel ( i.e. the glad tidings of Jesus the Christ, crucified and risen).

2. God sent His only begotten Son to die for all those, and those only, whom He had given to Christ as His people, effectively to redeem them, by atoning for their sins.

3. The Reformed perspective holds that all men alike are, because the fall of Adam, dead in sin and slaves to a sinful nature, having wills that are not free to be able to choose Christ and salvation, but bound to be incapable of doing any else, except to reject the Christ presented in the gospel.

4. God now efficaciously calls, by the gospel and the Holy Spirit, into saving fellowship with Jesus, all those, and only those, whom He chose and redeemed. The Holy Spirit brings about a "new birth" in His elect when outwardly hearing the Gospel being preached. These elect will never be cast out. "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." John 6:37

In a simple outline:

a. God commands us to go into all the world and preach the Good News.
b. Jesus paid the penalty of all sin of all those the Father gave Him.
c. We can freely preach the Gospel because we know it is not of us, but of how the Spirit moves which will bring about conversion.
d. God will draw all His elect unto Himself out of every tribe, tongue and nation.

Evangelism is just another great example of the working of the Trinity. The Father elects, the Son redeems, the Spirit awakens. Thank you God, for the Work you do in our lives and of those whom you know!

2006-01-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

I want to call your attention to the Westminster Shorter Catechism for today. It reads:

Q. 1.What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

It is the first question in the catechism which is fitting to be on the first day of this year. May we remember what our purpose is: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! Amen.

Gingerbread Girl

2006-01-01T15:23:00.000-08:00

Eventhough it is after Christmas, I thought I'd share with you this photo of Ginger playing the part of the Gingerbread Girl.

Just thinking, this blog mostly consists of Reformed theology and pictures of dogs. Pretty cool, eh?

Goodbye 2005...Hello 2006!

2005-12-31T10:23:00.000-08:00

As we come to the end of another year, many people are thinking of ways they want to change the way they live. They look back over the year and compare what actually took place to what they thought or hoped would take place.

2005 has been an exciting chapter in my own life. Among some of eventful things which took place were: my dad going into septic shock while on vacation with my mom in Hawaii, my dad having to have major surgery, my brother being deployed to Iraq, my three-month stint on the Amazon River in Brazil, my grandpa having open-heart surgery because of a genetic problem, finding out that both my uncles, my mom, and I have this genetic problem, becoming more aware of God's sovereingty in the midst of suffering, purchasing a really old, antique copy of Berkhof's Systematic Theology, starting this blog, and everyone growing a year older.

One thought that has meant a lot to me this year has been, "You don't grow much in Christ during the easy times." It's the hard times that show us how dependent upon Christ we are. It is the trials which force us to lean on Him to be our comfort. It is the loneliness which reminds us that God is our only truly faithful friend. It is bad health which shows us that our only hope is Jesus. It is our imperfections which reminds us that Jesus lived the only perfect life.

This is why we thank God for struggles. We rejoice that God is ordaining hardships for us. This is why we smile (with tears in our eyes) when we say that our suffering is personalized individually for us. It's handmade stuff. It was made for us with us in God's mind.

And it's not just for the suffering itself. It's for something else.

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

It produces hope. The Holy Spirit fills our hearts with God's love. This is the best thing for us.

So, as is popular tradition, here are my top ten New Year's Resolutions:

live to exalt Christ's name
live like I have one week left to live
live for the sake of partaking in Christ's sufferings
live for eternity, not the here and now
live riskfully and wisely at the same time
live healthfully
live joyfully
live to kill sin
live to die to self
live as would most please God

Now, what are yours?

Weazel "The Theologist" Ball

2005-12-27T15:20:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems all my "creature friends" develop a love and habit of theology when they enter my home. This makes me very thankfully proud.

Here is the newest addition to the bunch, Weazel. We call him The Theologist.

Just some questions...

2005-12-27T11:08:00.000-08:00

How far did we fall when we fell at the Fall? (say that ten times fast)

Are we wounded or dead?

Are we in need of a life-helper (doctor) or a life-giver (Jesus)?

Do we have the freedom (may we) to believe the Gospel?

Do we have the ability (can we) to believe the Gospel?

Are we slaves to sin?

Are we free to do as we want?

Do we want to love God?

The Pipester...

2005-12-24T22:01:00.000-08:00

I'd like to call your attention to my friend, Brian's blog, Righteous Sinner. He doesn't have any new posts. However, the old posts are really good. So, go check them out.

Here is a picture of his dog, Piper. The book, however, is by Ron Julian. Good book...

You think you know Jack???

2005-12-24T21:43:00.000-08:00

I'd like to draw your attention to my friend, Daniel's blog, Always Reforming. He has just posted a great, well-researched overview of C.S. Lewis and Narnia. I think it's definitely worth the read especially in light of the new movie and its surrounding ideas. Enjoy!

Stars

2005-12-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

This is a giant Hubble Mosaic of the Crab Nebula. Ana has gotten me into the mood of looking at the stars. They are quite beautiful here in the US, however, nothing I've seen here compares to the sky over the Amazon River in Brazil. I got the privilege of seeing the Milky Way so clearly and the Southern Cross so brightly. After a hard day's work, we would bathe in the clear blue water under a black night. I would just lay there on a bed made of smooth, white sand. The moon would shine the brightest light beam through the water, lighting up the sky. The stars....oh, the stars...they were spectacular!

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him,and the son of man that you care for him?" Psalm 8:3-4

Late nights...

2005-12-24T00:28:00.000-08:00

So, here I am sitting with a laptop on the couch watching all the seinfeld episodes on tivo. This is how I'm wasting my time with NO school!!! "Turn it off!" "Go to bed!" "AAAHHHH!!!"

Attention Torn ACLU!!!

2005-12-23T22:13:00.000-08:00

Sorry to put this here...But if you are still reading this blog, have you read D.A. Carson's book on the Emergent church?

Web Sudoku

2005-12-17T23:41:00.000-08:00

I've been doing it for toooooo long...thanks a lot, Frank!

70s Music Explosion!

2005-12-17T21:19:00.000-08:00

All I want for Christmas is a LifeTime 70s Music Explosion 8 CD set. (Got that, Stephen?)

The Poll

2005-12-17T20:49:00.000-08:00

For the last couple weeks, I've had a poll up about salvation and what it is conditioned upon. I wanted to do this because so often when I am discussing with fellow believers the subject of Reformed soteriology, the conversation will most often come down to how you would vote on this poll.

The question posed was this: What is salvation conditioned upon?

The possible "answers" were these:

Salvation is conditioned upon man's free will
Salvation is conditioned upon God's electing grace
Salvation is conditioned upon some other factor

The poll results are as follows (out of 96 votes total):

man's free will: 20 votes (21%)
God's electing grace: 55 votes (57%)
some other factor: 21 votes (22%)

Daniel wrote,

Good Arminians should vote with the second option. Both sides agree that God
decides or elects who is saved. The disagreement is whether this election is
unconditional or conditional. You really should reword it.

Thanks for bringing up a good subject, Daniel. My response to your first point, that "Both sides agree that God decides or elects who is saved," would be, I have yet to meet an arminian who would say that it is God who ultimately decides who will be a recipient of His grace. Will I ever meet an arminian who does?

Is election conditional?

Hmmm...I'm sure no one will want to address this comment...

When Grace Comes Home

2005-12-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

I just picked up this book at the book store. At first I was a bit skeptical. I get this way a lot. The cover is too modern, too appealing, too perfect. It couldn't possible be about THE "doctrines of grace," could it? I've picked up too many books which take reformed theology or calvinism or biblical theology and water it down, in the name of being appealing to my generation.

I'm half way through and When Grace Comes Home is climbing to my top favorite books. Terry Johnson, the man behind the book, starts off by saying,

"I personally stand as one who has been profoundly touched by the practical implications of Calvinism, and deeply longs for others to drink from it's satisfying wells. Yet in the popular mind, insofar as anything at all is understood about them, Calvinism's doctrines are regarded as irrelevant theological abstractions without any practical relevance at all."

This is true. I've seen it in my friends who think that I pursue the study of God because I'm "odd" or a "deep thinker." I want them to taste the richness of our God and of His ruling. I want them to see that the study of God is relevant, practical, and delighting. Learning about our God is a gift which should be relished. We should hoard it and be jealous of it. Not because of simply knowing about God, but knowing God.

Johnson goes on, "For our purposes I will focus in on three cardinal doctrines, which shall serve as the focus for the first leg of our journey."

These three doctrines are: the sovereignty of God, human depravity, and sovereign grace.

"These doctrines are not just the theoretical musings of ivory-tower theologians. They are not just abstractions unconnected to life. They are central. They are vital. They are crucial to the living of life. How so? Few seem to realize that these theological truths have shaped whole peoples and civilizations..."

"'My people perish for their lack of knowledge,' God warns through Hosea. This surely has been our problem. We have not had the patience to wrestle with the great truths. We have deliberatively avoided certain doctrines. The result? The same result that occurs whenever one deliberatively refuses any part of God's revelation of Himself. We suffer. We lose. Our souls don't receive the nourishment that that doctrine supplies."

"Paul taught 'the whole counsel of God' because we need it all (Acts 20:27). If we didn't need a part of it, God would not have revealed it to us. Since He did, we can't go around saying, 'It's too hard,' or 'It's too theological.' Apply your minds. 'Come let us reason together,' the Lord says (Isa. 1:18)."

"This is what we intend to do in the pages ahead. I believe that the result will be a much expanded knowledge of God for most. With that will come a clearer understanding of life as well."

My take: read it, read God's Word, and enjoy being refreshed in the wonder of God!

A day in my life

2005-12-14T15:45:00.000-08:00

I don't usually write about my day-to-day life on here, however, I've had the most interesting day that I just have to share with you.

It started out normal enough; I woke up.

At 11:30 I was supposed to meet someone for lunch but I was running a little late. I couldn't find a parking space and so I had to park up Main St. a ways and park in the 2-hour lot behind the bank, across from the Christian book store (the one where I am "on call" for when they need extra help).

Had a great lunch at a deli shop and headed back to my car when I realized I didn't have my keys. "Where did they go, Juli?" I ask myself.

"Man, I'm such an idiot!" I say as I see my keys dangling from the ignition.

I call my dad at work.

"Dad, do you have a spare to the Honda (yes, I drive an Accord!)?"
"Oh yeah, I did use it last week to get my keys out of the car...dangit!" (Where did I put that spare???)

So I call my mom up who is taking my great-grandma to the doctor and she tells me where she put the spare (because she found it laying around the house). I call my sister at home and ask her to look for it, but she can't find it.

Because I'm not sure what to do, I walk over to the Christian book store and make some more calls (on a phone which is running out of battery). My lovely, fellow co-worker asks me if I can work for her because she needs to go home. I tell her that I only have 2-hour parking and that I've already been in it for 2 1/2 hours and my keys are locked in it. She understands and I go back out to my car when I run into the ticket lady (the woman who goes around giving parking tickets to everyone) and she is super friendly and tells me that there is a number you can call that will provide free car emergency help. I call and they are "on their way." My mom finally calls me back and she wants to come to where I am to wait with me (she was just down the street). We wait and wait and wait and then my mom says I should call, so, what did I do? I call the free help place and their ETA is about 30 minutes. Mom says that she just take me home and we'll search the house for the key and come back.

15 minutes later, we're back at my car (with my spare key) and my mom drops my great-grandma and I off (because I'm heading over to Ana's house to play guitar together and my g-g lives near her). We get in and then...

The car doesn't start.

Yep, I left the lights on.

"Idiot!"

"Not you, Grammy."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I ended up laughing.

I call my uncle, Pastor Dale (Stephen's dad), because he is usually downtown and would most likely have jumper cables. Well, he is 20 minutes away. However, he is the sweetest guy and is on his way.

Side note: I asked several guys if they had jumper cables and none did. Can you believe it? I think every guy should carry jumper cables. They're on my Christmas list.

Back to the story: Grammy and I made the most of our time stuck in the car together by me bringing out my baby (Talyor) and hitting a few notes.

My uncle comes and starts my engine and I remember that I'm almost out of gas. We go to the closest station and it's shut down for technical problems. We got to a gas station that actually had gas before I ran out of mine.

Needless to say, I got Grammy home safely, but never made it to Ana's.

One of my problems is that I rush around without thinking. I'm going, going, gone. I need to slow down and chill out. My day went totally different than I had planned.

This is just one example of how I may think I know how my day will go, but God is really the only one who does (because He planned it!).

James 4:13-15 "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'"

We make our plans, but God directs our steps and paths to fulfill His plans.

As I dropped Grammy off, she said to me, "Julianne, I am always praying for you, however, I'll add a few more things in those prayers."

Formatting Difficulties

2005-12-14T11:06:00.000-08:00

I had to take off those two self-quizzes to format my template right. That means the comments had to go too. Bummer...

Narnia

2005-12-12T22:46:00.000-08:00

Here is a good review from Steve Camp (great man of God and musician).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the Front Row
...my review of the enchanting, Narnia

Beautiful imagery, some great acting, amazing animation/special effects, vivid characters, and staying true to Lewis’s original tome make Narnia wonderful holiday movie entertainment… safe for the whole family.

The Score
The music of Narnia, written and conducted by Harry Gregson-Williams, was also very well done (though it didn’t rise to his magnificent score for “Kingdom of Heaven”). It isn’t David Shore’s stirring music of Lord of the Rings, but for the most part it suits the film with intimacy and tenderness. What is strangely missing for a release of the magnitude of Narnia, was a memorable theme melody and a signature song that really captured the movies essence. In songwriting we call it “the hook.” Most great films have associated with it an unmistakable, powerful song or songs with a theme melody woven throughout that brings the audience to a “familiar and memorable place.” Such songs usually become “classics” or “standards.” There should have been no shortage of songwriters who would have leaped at the chance, if asked, to deliver an award winning original composition and performance (i.e., Phil Collins, Elton John, Bryan Adams, Sting, Paul McCartney, Annie Lenox, Andre B! ocelli to name a few). Alanis Morissette does deliver a very good vocal performance on a song called, “Wunderkind” which is only introduced while the credits are rolling. However, it doesn’t rise to what is expected for a film of this importance.

The Cast
Lucy (Georgie Henley) and the Witch (Tilda Swinton) stole any scene they were in. They were brilliant. However, Peter (William Moseley) and Susan (Anna Popplewell) delievered very weak, amateurish performances at best. Liam Neilson in anyone’s book was nothing short of tremendous as the voice of Aslan.

Theology and Allegory
I appreciate good writing, literature, and the use of allegory in story to drive home a powerful message. Lewis does that here… But as good as his imagery and allegory is throughout “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” it is not the message of the biblical gospel hidden within the allegory.

As I have read through several reviews of this film by well respected Christian thinkers, bloggers, theologues and Biblicists, it’s stupefying how any one of them could think that Lewis’s allegorical story was “an atoning death, retell the story of Christ's passion and resurrection. This story of salvation history is told with theological precision and with a continuous eye on the Gospel accounts of the life and death of Jesus.” (Leland Ryken commenting on Lewis's tome. I usually appreciate Leland Ryken’s theological insights and writings very much; but his comments here seem to be based on romanticized fantasy—instead of sound biblical theology.)

Making a Deal with The Devil...
What Lewis, in classical theological terms, portrays in Narnia is called, *The Ransom Theory of the atonement. The Ransom Theory in short is: The notion that it was the devil who made the cross necessary, by Christ being offered to him as a ransom for all of lost humanity. It was a payment made to the devil, by Christ, for the salvation of mankind. This is of course is untrue according to the Scriptures.

Berkhof writes when commenting on this utter folly and specious teaching: “Christ offered Himself as a ransom to Satan, and Satan accepted the ransom without realizing that he would not be able to retain his hold on Christ because of the latter's divine power and holiness. . . Thus the souls of all men - even of those in Hades - were set free from the power of Satan.”

To illustrate: Lewis has Aslan making a deal with the Queen of Narnia (the Witch) for Edmund’s blood. Aslan meets with The Witch to strike a deal with her. The deal being: he agrees to willingly submit to the Witch’s thirst for his death by dying in Edmund’s place on the stone altar of The Witch. The Witch is portrayed as having power over Aslan by shaving his mane from his head, her demonic-like followers beating him, and then striking him dead with the thrust of her knife into his heart. She then in the aftermath of his death proceeds to mock him before his followers, by wearing the remains of his shaved mane as a cloak in battle. Within this moving allegorical picture, what is being depicted is untrue biblically. Unpacking the biblical meaning from the allegory leaves one to believe that Satan deceived Christ into making a deal for the soul of a man (in ! Lewis’s world Aslan dies for one mischievous, cowardly, deceived boy named Edmund. Did not the rest of Narnia need redemption?); Christ then surrendered His will to Satan in that brokered agreement; the cross was then Satan’s blind victory over the Son of God, and lastly, Satan thought he had defeated Christ on the cross as all of his hellish hosts rejoiced in seeing the Son of Man killed.

*UPDATE: (In fairness to Lewis, I haven't been able to find, yet, where Lewis wrote about the ransom theory. However, what was depicted in tome and film in LWW portrayed a ransom theory view. The confusing facts here are significant: though he may not have written on the ransom theory, he certainly gives credence to it in the LWW. What is the reality? Still investigating.)

The Ransom Theory is Unbiblical (for a few obvious reasons)
1. Satan is depicted as being equal in power to Christ. A dualistic struggle of good vs evil.

2. Satan is not subject to God's sovereignty, but has the ability as "lord of this earth" to negotiate a settlement where God is beholding to him for the souls of men.

3. God has ultimately defeated Satan by deception not by divine decree.

4. The nature of Christ is diminished; the nature of Satan is elevated; the nature of God is confused; and the nature of the cross is perverted.

Here's the Truth of It
The cross was never referred to by the Lord or any of the Apostles as a ransom paid by Christ to Satan. But they did speak about the cross as a vicarious propitiatory sacrifice, meeting the demands of the law, fulfilling all righteousness, appeasing God’s wrath, an atonement for the sins of the elect, and the expiation of guilt.

I liked the movie very much—as a movie of allegorical fiction with underpinning moral tones (don’t lie, don’t deceive, be loyal to your family, overcome evil with good, etc.) BUT, when "the gospel" behind Lewis's allegory is examined theologically, it is not the biblical view.

Enjoy the film; read your Bibles; and don't confuse the two.
From the Front Row,
Campi

PS - For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. -Leviticus 17:11

"That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor 15:3). Atonement is the cornerstone of all theology, being the "stone that the builders rejected" which has now become the cornerstone (Matt 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7; quoting Paslm 118:22). The content of theology is the power in the blood. It is the hub, made indefectibly strong by Christ's resurrection, from which all the spokes of theology derive." - Paul F.M. Zahl

Visit CampOnThis Blog

Help! I'm going Hyper!

2005-12-12T21:26:00.000-08:00

Check out Purgatorio's latest post: 25 warning signs that you might be obsessing about Calvinism

Too funny!
:)

Warning: You have got to read this blog if you want a good laugh, but only if you can take this kind of humor (meaning, being able to laugh at yourself). ;)

MySpace

2005-12-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

There has been a lack of posts around here because of two reasons. First, this last week was finals at school and almost every minute was spent studying. Second, I have recently discovered the addiction to MySpace and have had to force myself to not check it every half hour to see if someone has left a message or comment. The high of seeing "NEW MESSAGES!" keeps me hooked and exhilarated. However, I've seen a decrease in my time spent with more meaningful subjects. I'm considering shutting my account off completely. Thank you for hanging in there for me...

50 years...what's the big deal?

2005-12-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

Navy beats Army strong. Oh well, there's always next year...

...to be beat by Navy again...

Happy 10 Month Birthday, SempRef!

2005-12-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

...Okay, so it's been 10 months Semper Reformanda has been up and running. The Pyro has inspired me to take a good look and inventory of how these 10 months have gone.

It all started in February when the winds were blowing and the rain was raining. I was probably inside my warm, cozy home sipping green tea and "surfing" the web when I was supposed to be working on some paper for school. When I ran across Tim Challies' blog and read through it. Here was a guy who knew what he knew and wrote what he knew. If anyone's confused, that last sentence is a good thing. Anyway, through his blog and a few select others, I came across many godly blogs which had a way of focusing my attention on God, His attributes, and the importance of why they are important to be focused on.

Consequently, I felt the urge to have my own little "dwelling" in the suburbs of space. I set out my goals for the blog in my very first post, Why Blog?
They were:

to help equip the saints
bring glory to our much worthy God
to be encouraged by you (the reader and commenter)
to write down my sheep-like thoughts

I know for sure that my last point has been very successful. On top of this, some unexpected friendships have come out of my blog. Rand has been a huge encouragement to me and my walk towards truth. Micah and I started "Blog the Word" which didn't go too far, but nonetheless, was fun (if you can, add another chapter). Jessica is a wonderful lady my own age who loves theology as well. Frank Martens has a great sense of humor with a brain to back it up (many of us lack the brain). He also gets my sense of humor (I think!). Through Frank, I met his sister, Joanna, and we hit it right off. I don't get to talk to Aron that much, but he has some awesome things to read. I even have a blog friend who attends The Master's College; Adam. He is one lucky fellow.

There are also some non-unexpected friends here as well; my "real" friends. Daniel has been here from the begining giving his appreciated analytical perspective. My cousin, Stephen, is my best guy friend and is a great writer. Brian has been another huge encouragement and influence in my life. His blog is wonderful (when he updates it). Jason and the other Brian have just recently set up their very own blogs, check them out. For some lighter reading, check out Jordan's blog. My ex-co-worker and friend, Ana, also has a blog. Oh, and how could I forget my other cousin, Matador. There are no words to describe his blog. He is isolated from our family because he was shunned from our church (for obvious reasons). He is now serving time on the East Coast. (If you are new to my blog, I apologize now for any sarcastic comments which might escape me). If I fogot any of you, I profusely apologize.

Some amazing things have happened in my life since this blog has been intact. The biggest yet is my three month stint in Bazil on the Amazon River. There I worked on a medical boat, built churches, and worked with children and adolescents. It has been, by far, the best experience of my life. I wrote a bit while I was there in five different posts; Hello from Brasil!, Update, Bom Dia, Another Update, and Tooth Pulling.

I wrote about Calvinism and Arminianism for a school paper, and posted it here. The comments that followed were thought provoking. Incidentally, I met Daniel (different one) who disagreed with my conclusions and shared his views of Molinism. Some other philosophers who visit this blog are: Magnum, Antonio, and Philosapologist.

The post which received the most comments was Inconsistant Theology which was an open forum of different theologies. With 101 comments, there is ample amount of opinions.

In these 10 months, I have never given up an opportunity to brag about my little theologian girl, Ginger. I posted one of her most serious pictures.

Sometimes I wonder where I'd be without my blog. Let's just say that I spend one hour a day either working on my own or looking at others. After 10 months, that's 300 days which means I spent an average of 300 hours on this thing since February. What could have I done in that time? Would it have been more God-glorifying or saint-edifying or more encouraging than this has been? Has this blog been an instrument for God? Could it have been more Christ-centered and God-magnifying? Yes. I believe that even this blog can be semper reformanda, always reforming.

This is where you, my precious readers, come in. In what ways can Semper Reformanda be more intentional and Kingdom-minded?

Julianne's Own...

2005-11-27T20:52:00.000-08:00

Top signs that you can tell I'm a calvinist:

I lay awake at night thinking up possible theories on lapsarianism.

My car has a "honk if you think C.H. Spurgeon was hot" bumper sticker.

I bring up Scripture passages which make people cringe.

I go to the local Christian bookstore and turn most (!) of the theology books towards the flow of customers (after I dust them off).

I jump up and down when I "discover" a Christian music CD with God-glorifying lyrics.

I'm the first in line for the latest 'Modern Reformation' Magazine.

I actually think the puritans were awesome people.

I give copies of 'Debating Calvinism' for Christmas gifts.

My best thoughts of God are after reading Isaiah and Romans.

I cringe at the words "emerging" or "middle knowledge."

Top Reasons You Should've Known I'm A Calvinist

2005-11-27T20:42:00.000-08:00

Check out these great 20 reasons that you would know someone's a calvinist. 10 from Chris @ Imperishable Inheritence and 10 from Amy @ Humble Musings.

Here are a few:

19. I’m the [girl] who brings the party down by mentioning the “p” word.
16. I feel it necessary to constantly make everyone define what “free will” means.
12. I won’t like any sermon unless the preacher says some kind of reformed buzz word.
9. I can’t sing from memory all the verses of “Just as I Am.”
6. I plagiarize Elisabeth Elliot and John Piper.
2. I smile at the insult “frozen chosen.”

Thanks, Chris and Amy!

2005-11-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

[EDIT] Reformolution

2005-11-24T11:12:00.000-08:00

I want to start something big. I don't know what it is yet, but it'll be big. I have the name....[EDIT] Reformolution. It's a reformation revolution. I know...this sounds like a reformed Seinfield episode or something...

After some helpful advice, I'm going to go with the name Reformolution. Thanks, Brian!

2005-11-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and then to loosen up. Inevitably though, one thought led to another and soon I was more than just a social thinker.

I began to think alone – "to relax," I told myself – but I knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me and finally, I was thinking all the time.

I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself.

I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Plantinga and Moreland. I would return to the office dizzied and confused asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?"

Things weren't going so great at home either. One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's.

I soon had a reputation as a heavy thinker. One day the boss called me in. He said, "Skippy, I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job." This gave me a lot to think about.

I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..."

"I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!"

"But Honey, surely it's not that serious."

"It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as college professors and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking we won't have any money!"

"That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently, and she began to cry. I'd had enough. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door.

I headed for the library, in the mood for some Aquinas, with STR on the radio. I roared into the parking lot and ran up to the big glass doors…they didn't open. The library was closed.

To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that night.
As I sank to the ground clawing at the unfeeling glass, whimpering for the Summa, a poster caught my eye. "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked. You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's Anonymous poster.

Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Napoleon Dynamite." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting.

I still have my job and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed... easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking.

Thanks, Stand To Reason

2005-11-22T06:55:00.000-08:00

As my fellow blogger, TulipGirl put it, "WWLB?"

2005-11-16T18:22:00.000-08:00

"Seek not to grow in knowledge chiefly for the sake of applause, and to enable you to dispute with others; but seek it for the benefit of your souls, and in order to practice....Practice according to what knowledge you have. This will be the way to know more...[According to Ps. 119:100] 'I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.'"

Jonathan Edwards

Later...Day Saints

2005-11-16T17:17:00.000-08:00

5:02 pm

*ding-dong* *bark-bark*

I peer through the glass window in our front door. I see two blurry black figures. Once again, Mormans are at my door. Dad picks up Ginger (who, by the way, wants to tear their theology to bits) and I breathe, in and out, slowly. I'm always up to a challenge, however, tonight I didn't feel like listening or discussing. I put away my feelings and put a smile on my face.

*door opens*

Morman: good evening
Juli: hello
M: we're out sharing in our neighborhood (apparently, my city and theirs are somewhat close) about our faith...blah, blah, blah

We ended up talking about works and faith and the *full* atonement of Christ. Good discussion. I got their opinions of the Reformation and what Luther was standing for. I asked about their convictions of the account of Joseph Smith. Basically, one of the guys said that he believes Smith's account based on "reading [Smith's] journal and praying about and trusting his 'feelings'." I asked about outside accounts that support Smith's claims, they knew of none. I asked if trusting our feeling is the way to go since our "heart is deceitful above all else."

*mumbling*

Their highest goal is to raise a family and live happily.

"Original Sin which binds us so, only the grace of God will untow."

It ended well and Ginger calmed down. Just a reminder of the fog so many live in daily. God, be gracious to these lost souls.

The Sibs minus Army boy

2005-11-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

Elyssa, myself, Abigail, Matthew, and Ginger, the famous late-night theologian.

Free will, free agency, and responsibility

2005-11-10T18:13:00.000-08:00

For all you guys who've been involved with my "inconsistent theology" post, here is a good blog by my friend, Rand of A Form of Sound Words.

Here is a quick preveiw:

"Man cannot do otherwise than continue in sin so long as he is in his natural state (Jer. 17:9; Prov. 4:23; Job 14:4; Jer. 13:23; John 6:65; Rom. 8:7, 8; 1 Cor. 2:14). But his continuance in sin is not due to outside compulsion or restraint, but to his own character which causes him to choose darkness rather than light (John 3:19). He continues in sin for the same reason that a hog wallows in the mire. He continues in sin for the same reason that God continues in holiness. Thus he is fully a free agent." (T.P. Simmons)

Live in Salem...

2005-11-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

WhoooHooooooooooooo!!!!!!

Chris Tomlin, live, friday night!!!! I'm so stoked...

3 Powers

2005-11-09T17:42:00.000-08:00

My favorite Brazil Christian rock band!!!

Hey guys!

Athanasius

2005-11-09T15:33:00.000-08:00

John Piper just finished a three-part series on our friend, St. Athanasius. Check it out.

Corpse Art

2005-11-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

"A dead man, flayed, holds up his own skin. A corpse rides a skinned horse while holding both of their brains. The body of a young women eight months pregnant reclines in a provacative pose. Her womb is cut open so we can see her dead baby. The hottest tickets in America's museums are for exhibits of corpses--mutilated, skinned, but posed in "life-like" positions."

This excerpt from World Magazine's October 8 issue details the horrid truth of what some are doing in the name of "art."

A German man by the name of Gunther von Hagens is the brainchild behind this. Von Hagen invented "plastination," a method of preserving dead bodies in plastic.

The article goes on to describe whose bodies these are and the controversies behind all this and why it is wrong mutilating corpses and displaying them.

Read more here.

"This is art in the culture of death."

Name this dude...

2005-11-07T13:56:00.000-08:00

dead bird

2005-11-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

This is a sad picture, I know. For three hours it just sat, all puffed-up, motion-less. Later I found it tipped over as the picture indicates.

Matthew 10:29-30
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father."

In this case, a Scrub-Jay.

The Pyro does it again!

2005-11-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

Check out this 50-minute message on the story of Calvinism by Phil Johnson. Well worth the short download time. Click here.

Find it at your local Christian bookstore

2005-11-01T17:06:00.000-08:00

You all have to check out this month's TableTalk; No Strings Attached. It's about what Reformed Theology isn't. Very excellent.

2005-10-31T18:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Reformation Day!!!

Gimme a break!

2005-10-30T21:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, whatever you say...

I'm taking a little break from blogging. Let's just say maybe a week. There are some things in my life which I need to do some heavy praying over. May God bless you this week.
:)

Inconsistent Theology

2005-10-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Today I was at the Christian bookstore and I started talking to this sweet lady who is dealing with an unsaved husband who has some big sin issues in his life. I listened as she poured out her heart to me. These situations are awesome because it is an opportunity to love someone and respond to their emotions. To comfort her, I said, "Don't give up hope. If God can save me, a wretched sinner only worthy of his full wrath, than He can save your husband." She kind of interrupted me and said, "Oh, I know I won't be able to do it (change his heart), if God can't, than I can't for sure. " She goes on, "He (God) wants to change his heart, but it won't happen until my husband wants to let him." I was taken aback. Did she really just say that God was not able to change a person's heart until that person wants God to?

What we have now is a god who is not in control, who doesn't get his way, and must submit to the authority of created, fallen man.

What kind of god is this? He is not worthy of my praise. He receives no credit for my salvation, because, hey, I'm the one who gave him permission to "change my heart."

But, wait, it can't be possible for me to want God to change my heart before I let God change my heart because if in fact I want God to come into my heart, that very desire is a sign of a changed heart. Am I right?

He can't be the same God whom Job was talking about in Job 42:2, "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted [even by man]."

Romans 3:10-11 says, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God."

So, logically, if we do seek after God and desire Him, our heart has been changed, by God, not ourselves.

This automatically brings up the story of Paul in my memory. How did that story go again? Oh yeah...I remember... so Saul was walking one day to Damascus when he suddenly thought a thought, which was deep inside him, about how wonderful it might be to get to know Jesus as something more than he had. So, he decided, that he wanted Jesus so much that he was finally going to give Jesus what he wanted too. I get Jesus, Jesus gets me. Everyone's happy, everyone wins. Then Saul goes on to praise God for saving him, and thanks his mother for passing on so smart a brain to him. "How clever I am to find within myself that morsel of truth!" Paul states rejoicefully. The End.

But then again, I can't even remember where I put my keys...

T-Shirts

2005-10-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

they'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
they'll know us by the way we point and stare
at anyone whose sin looks worse than ours
who cannot hide the scars of this curse that we all bare

they’ll know us by our picket lines and signs
they’ll know us by the pride we hide behind
like anyone on earth is living right
and isn’t that why Jesus died
not to make us think we’re right

when love, love, love
is what we should be known for
love, love, love
it’s the how and it’s the why
we live and breathe and we die

they’ll know us by reasons we divide
and how we can’t seem to unify
because we’ve gotta sing songs a certain style
or we’ll walk right down that aisle
and just leave ‘em all behind
they’ll know us by the billboards that we make
just turning God’s words to cheap clichés
says “what part of murder don’t you understand?”
but we hate our fellow man
and point a finger at his grave

they'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
they'll know us by the way we point and stare
telling ‘em their sins are worse than ours
thinking we can hide our scars
beneath these t-shirts that we wear

~Derek Webb

2005-10-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

My heaven...
...except make that a younger guy with dark hair...

To whet your appetite...

2005-10-23T21:57:00.000-07:00

"We're getting so good at doing "the christian thing," that it's no longer christianity."
~Brian Phelps

Bye for now

2005-10-20T21:41:00.000-07:00

I head out tomorrow for Gutenburg's Oktoburfuss in Eugene. God willing, I'll blog about it when I return. God bless your weekend!

Soli Deo Gloria!

2005-10-18T07:43:00.000-07:00

Jesus, with Thy church abide;
Be her savior, Lord, and Guide,
While on earth her faith is tried:
We beseech Thee, hear us,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

Keep her life and doctrine pure;
Grant her patience to endure,
Trusting in Thy promise sure:
We beseech Thee, hear us,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

May she one in doctrine be,
One in truth and charity,
Winning all to faith in Thee:
We beseech Thee, hear us,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

May she guide the poor and blind,
Seek the lost until she find
And the brokenhearted bind:
We beseech Thee, hear us,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

Jesus with Thy Church Abide
©1997 Christopher Miner Music. Words: Thomas Pollock. Music: Christopher Miner.

It's really in There!

2005-10-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

I will be starting a new weekly post entitled "It's really in There!" In it, I will post a verse from the Bible which may or may not be surprising or shocking to you. My pupose is two-fold: to glorify God by quoting His Word, and to inspire and convict you to take out the Bible and read it!

Here goes...

Proverbs 18:17
"The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him."

Now this week's verse is one to get you thinking. So, what are your thoughts???

Caution: Context is important!!! If I seem to be extracting meaning from a verse which is not it's original intent, please bring this to my attention. Thank you.

Note: All Scripture quoted is from the English Standard Version.

2005-10-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

This was taken at a beautiful park not too far from my house. Great place for ultimate frisbee. My mom and I are best friends.

End of the Spear

2005-10-17T06:54:00.000-07:00

The true story of Nate Saint's and four other missionaries' brutal death for bringing the Word of God to the Aucca indians. This movie is focused on Steve Saint (Nate's son) and his return to the indians. This is going to be a must-see film. Make sure you get the chance to go. Opens January 20. Check this out for information.

My Studious Dog

2005-10-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

I found her like this at 2:30 in the morning. Look at her tired eyes. She is very into theological apologetics, however, she has a lack of compassion for the lost. She barks at the neighbors.

2005-10-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

Wooohooo!!!!!!
Derek Webb live October 19th at Yreka Christian Fellowship.

I'm there.

Special Guest on Today's Radio Program

2005-10-04T16:49:00.000-07:00

Brought to you by Adam Cummings

*Radio Buzzes On*

Adam: Well, today is a very special day. With me now is the Apostle Paul. Good day, Paul!

Paul: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A: Also with me is Mr. Gracious, emerging advocate of the Mushy Gushy Proclamation for Watered Down Doctrine movement (the MGPWDD). Mr. Gracious, good day.

Mr. Gracious: *with a thick Joel Osteen accent* Oh, thank you so much Adam. I'm so glad we can all be here as a unified body. After all this doctrinal stuff, I've been getting dizzy. I've seen so many young Bible students rebuking and correcting others with the Word of Truth, it's just been makin' me so gosh-durn sick. I wish they had all the experience that I've had, then they'd know better.

A: Paul?

P: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

A: Wow. Ok then. Now, Mr. Gracious, what is it about doctrine that you don't like?

G: Oh, I love God's doctrine, I just can't stand the way so many young men debate it and tear down the views of those who seem to be teaching something not in the Bible. This, Adam, is not Christ's idea of unity.

A: Interesting viewpoint. Paul, you wanted to say something?

P: We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...

A: Sorry to cut you short, but it's time for a commercial break. Stay tuned, listeners.

*Radio plays Mr. Gracious' commercial song, the well-known and classic hit I Love You, written by Barney the Dinosaur*

A: And we're back!

G: *sigh* That song brings tears to my eyes every time I think about the way the body of Christ is today.

A: Hmmm, moving right along... Now Mr. Gracious, you are a Calvinist, correct?

G: That is incorrect, kind sir. I prefer--with aldo respect--to be called a Bible believer. Thanks.

A: My apologies. You do, then, believe that preachers should teach that sovereign act of God, whereby He elects a certain race to salvation in His Son and passes over the rest, leaving them in their sin.

G: Now Adam, let's be careful. *sweet grin and soft voice* We should tell people this with grace. Many Christians might not have the understanding that we have, and voicing your opinions too much might cause division. It really is sad how so many just want to push their stance on election, rather than gently presenting it to other Christians.

A: Paul, how would you go about teaching election to someone who says that sovereign election makes God the author of sin or that God is unjust in hardening anyone's heart by leaving them in their own sin? What would you say to that person?

P: On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?

G: WELL! Of all the...

A: Hold on, Mr. Gracious, we need to keep going. Now Paul, as Christians, don't you think we could be a little less bold about what we say? Besides, young students learning from their undergraduate Bible class professors really have a knack for this. Should they be so bold?

P: Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading.

A: Very interesting. Of course, in one of your books--Philippians I believe--you did speak of being like Christ with a humble spirit. Where do we draw the line? Was Jesus more tolerant of bad doctrine than many young Bible students are today? What should we do? On a more personal level, Paul, how should I respond to those older and more experienced than myself when they attack me because of my boldness in speech and label me as arrogant? Ha, after all, I guess that comes with the radio business.

P: Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. . . . Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

A: I appreciate the advice. Sorry, Mr. Gracious, let's turn it back to you.

G: Well, I must confess that I think Paul's attitude is harming the body of Christ and doing no good at all. We must realize that we are who we are because of Christ, and I declare that it is by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is...

A: With aldo respect, Mr. Gracious, you're quoting Paul's book.

G: Well, I seem to exhibit what he writes better than he does; I just can't believe his tone about all this. That kind of attitude is really contra-Christ.

A: WELL, thanks folks for stopping by for this quick interview, and I trust it's been an encouragement to your hearts. Since you are our special guest, any closing words for us, Paul? You don't have to tell us whether or not you wrote the book of Hebrews, but wasn't there something in there that you wanted to respond to Mr. Gracious with? Thanks again for listening everyone; go ahead, Paul.

P: For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

G: [Unintelligible]

*Show Ends*

2005-10-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

He gives grace
to His elect because He wills it
to His redeemed because of His covenant
to the called because of His promise
to believers because they seek it
to sinners because they need it

~Charles H. Spurgeon

Street Evangelism

2005-09-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about street evangelism (passing out tracts, talking to people, proclaiming the glorious gospel) and how it fulfills God's plan for salvation in the hearts of men. What is the purpose of these quick, seemingly insignificant "encounters" that we have with total strangers? Is "relational" evangelism (witnessing to those whom we know on a more regular basis) better? More important? More effective?

I have some of my own thoughts on the matter (of course!). However, I want to hear from you. What do you think about this matter? And why???? This part is key, show me Scripture!

2005-09-23T16:01:00.000-07:00

Now, that's worth waiting for!

Modesty

2005-09-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

Pastor Dale Meador just finished up a mini-series on modesty. Click here to listen:

Part 1: For Men

Part 2: For Women

Hello, my name is Julianne and I go to a community college

2005-09-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

There. I said it. I go to a community college. There's nothing wrong about that, right?

In the beginning, I told myself only one year at the CC. One year. I had seen too many people spend up to six or more years taking only 4-8 credits a term there. That was not going to be me. After the first year, I'd be up at the University. Now, doesn't that have a nicer ring to it?

However, God has changed my prior, prideful attitude about my continuing education. He has opened my eyes to the great advantages of CCs. Not that there aren't advantages with universities, but now I can appreciate a lot of my CC. First, I love the smaller class sizes. This has been really good for me because it gives opportunities to get to know my professors, whom of which are very nice, straighforward, and good teachers (a rare, but good trait to have).

Just last night, my psychology prof from last year gave me a call. He told me that I had gotten off to a bit of a shakey start (a B in the class), but by the 2nd term, I was improving (up to an A). Well, I had run into him two weeks ago in front of the library and I was telling him of my trip to Brazil (I can't stop talking about it). He told me on the phone that he was looking through my records and that he wanted to give me an opportunity to raise my first term grade up to an A by either writing a paper on how my trip to Brazil changed me or just coming in to his office and talking with him about it. Can you believe it??? I have been praying that God would bring opportunities into my life in order that I may share the wonderful work God has done in my life. He is so good! Another thing is, to get into the very competetive RN program, it all depends on my GPA. So this will definitely raise that. I'm very excited on being able to share this with him. He is not a Christian, and I remember from the first time I met him on the first day of class, he mentioned how he is just fascinated by the Protestant Reformation! How one man could go against an established religion. I know the answer! It is because of God! That is how one man could do it!

Anyway, this sort of thing would never happen at a crowded university. I am so thankful to God for where He has me right now. I love Him so much and His providence over all my life. You are worthy, God, of all my worship!

Oktoberfuss 2005

2005-09-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Nancy Pearcy, author of Total Truth, will be one of the speakers at this year's Oktoberfuss in Eugene, OR. Gutenburg College/McKenzie Study Center is putting this on at Lane Community College.

The conference will be held at LCC on October 21-22.
Friday night will include a silent auction and reception from 5:30-7:30, and then Nancy will speak from 7:30-9:00 on "Total Truth: Have We Lost Our Minds?"
Saturday, the schedule will be as follows:
8:30-10:00 Nancy Pearcey on "Total Truth: Regaining Our Minds"
10:15-11:45 Nancy Pearcey on "Total Truth: Impacting Culture"
1:00-2:30 Jack Crabtree on "The Gospel and Its Intended Impact"
2:45-4:00 David Crabtree on "Educating Human Beings"
4:15-5:30 Wes Hurd on "Expressing a Christian Worldview
5:30-6:30 Speakers Panel
A cost of $45 for individuals, $65 for couples, and $25 for students has been set.
For more details, please check out our website: http://www.mckenziestudycenter.org/ and follow the Oktoberfuss 2005 link, which should be appearing in the next few days.

To pre-register, please send attendee names, address, and phone number or email along with payment to Gutenberg College, 1883 University St, Eugene, OR 97403

To all my readers (all four of you): Please come! I want to meet you in person. ;)

2005-09-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

My cousin, Brayden, and I. Isn't he a cutie?

Boy Meets Girl...but, that's about it

2005-09-12T18:08:00.000-07:00

Recently, I've been reading Joshua Harris' Boy Meets Girl. In it, I read a good paragraph that's got me thinking.

"A couple committed to God's glory places their ultimate hope in God, not in each other. Before two people can please God as a couple, they must first be individuals who want God more than anything else and who know that only He can satisfy the deepest longings of their souls."

Eventhough, I am not in a "dating" relationship, I can still apply this concept to my life as a single person...maybe even better to start now. Am I an individual who wants God more than anything else? I hope I am. How can I really know though? Do I seek to have Christ's name exalted higher than my own? Is anything I do out of selfish ambition? Am I disappointed when things don't go as "planned," in relationships, for example? Am I doubtful of God's providence when destruction and calamities come? Are there things in me that are causing myself slower conforment to Christ?

He goes on to write, "One of my favorite authors, John Piper, has made his life message this simple but profound truth: 'God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.' What does this mean? It means that we can exalt God by trusting in Him and desiring Him above anything else in life--more than companionship, more than romance, more than marriage. When we do, our lives say louder than words that He is more fulfilling than all these things."

Companionship...that is the key one for me. Just someone to talk with who appreciates the same things I do. "Come on, God! Is it that hard?" This attitude is natural for me. One I must purge from myself. I need to be fully content with where God has placed me. God fulfills me! He does! He is all I need! This is a precious truth.

"Unlike all the fleeting pleasures of this world, when we make God the object of our soul's longing, He truly satisfies us--we find the lasting peace and joy we long for. Only then can we have a healthy, happy relationship, because instead of the relationship being our reason for living, it becomes an expression of the fact that we're living for Someone greater."

(Joshua Harris, Boy Meets Girl pg. 38)

Too Comfortable...

2005-09-07T16:39:00.000-07:00

"No! Don't let it happen. Don't let me slowly creep back into ease. Don't let me become "easygoing" with my faith. Don't let me become comfortable in life."

This has been my prayer since coming home from Brazil. This life is our chance to get out of our "comfort zone" and suffer for Christ. I'm talking physically and emotionally. Now, I can say this as much as I want, but do I mean it? Am I really willing to take what will come my way when I bear myself before my King and this world? Am I willing to feed the hungry and clothe the naked? Am I willing to be wise, but not "safe"? Am I willing to give up rights to myself and give myself completely to the One who knows and loves me best?

Were we ever promised that this life would be a breeze? Were we promised that we would get a "one-way ticket to paradise" with no stops along the way? Where do we come up with these ideas? As Christians, do we let the world, culture, society influenece us more than the Word of God? God's Word says that we are sent out as a sheep in a pack of wolves. That is about the worst analogy I want to be commpared to. It's basically the position I want to steer clear of the most. A poor, helpless sheep among hungry, angry wolves who happen to love sheep sirloin the best. No good. However, this is what Jesus tells us. What do you think He could mean by it? Maybe that we will suffer, that we will face persecution, that we will forget the "comfortable" life.

Just some thoughts. Right now, I'm wanting to go minister on the streets, but part of me feels like waiting till some others can come with me. Father, please send the right people into my life. Your will be done, on earth, like it is in heaven. Amen.