Berean Blog

The Doctrine of Justification in Romans

2008-07-12T13:00:00.002-04:00

The word justification is one of those two-dollar theological terms bandied about with little comprehension by those who use it and even less by those who need it. This post attempts to clear the fog at least a little.

Its Explanation (What it is)

Justification is defined by Webster as, "1.) ... a showing to be just or conformable to law, rectitude or propriety; vindication; defense; 2.) Absolution"; but most notably "4.) In theology, remission of sin and absolution from guilt and punishment; or an act of free grace by which G-d pardons the sinner and accepts him as righteous, on account of the atonement of Christ." [1] .

In the New Testament, the Greek noun most commonly translated justification is δικαίωμα (dikaioma) from the verb δίκαιος (dikaios) with a primary meaning "to render righteous or such he ought to be" [2] .

Justification would thus appear to be a state of being in which a human is completely free from any feelings of guilt or fear of condemnation that would ordinarily be brought on as a result of sin incurring the wrath of a holy G-d. In that sense, justification seems to be merely an abstract ideal and, for any honest thinking person, an unrealistic expectation.

Its Exigency (Why it’s needed)

Paul's epistle to the Romans begins by introducing three categories of humans: pagan, moral, and religious. He logically defines each group and demonstrates that regardless of external categorization, all are equal in standing before Yahweh.

The beginning of Romans chapter three paints an undeniably bleak picture; whether Jew or Gentile, there are none that are righteous regardless of whether they are under the law as given in the Torah or the law as dictated by their conscience. The next chapter (Rom. 4:15) includes the caveat that there is no escape clause, since the law brings wrath through its definition of transgression.

In verses 10-18, Paul quotes from Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 5:9, Psalm 140:3, Psalm 10:7, Psalm 36:1, and Isaiah 59:7-8 [3] , summarizing in one statement (Rom. 3:10) the universality and totality involved in transgression. Failure encompasses all of mankind and all attempts at righteousness as Paul states: "there is none righteous". As if this indictment were not sufficiently emphatic, he adds:"no, not one".

This condemnation reaches its climax in verse twenty, as Paul asserts that "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight". Righteousness is elusive to all and justification as a result is non-existent. The assertion is made against all flesh, with no differentiation or allowance for exemption made for any sex, race, nationality, religion or lifestyle; no one escapes this pronouncement. The assertion addresses being justified in the sight of G-d, with no attention paid to justification in the sight of any other. In other words, it matters not who you are and it matters not what anyone else thinks of you. What a grim perspective! Thankfully however, Paul does not stop at verse twenty.

Its Exercise (How it’s applied)

Having painted a dark picture with the grimmest of colors to this point, verse 21 introduces a gloriously bright new hue. The beginning of this change in tone is in two simple words: "But now". The weight sturdily and inexorably built through three chapters is effortlessly lifted and carried away in two syllables: "but now"! The law was the sternest of schoolmasters (Gal. 3:23-24), forever dictating and never satisfied in the past, "but now" comes graduation (Gal. 3:25). Only those that fulfilled the law to the letter (Rom. 2:12-14) were justified in the past, "but now" comes latitude. The law could only inform of transgression (Rom. 3:19-20) with no promise of deliverance, "but now" comes freedom.

This graduation, latitude and freedom comes through the righteousness of G-d Himself (verse 21). With hope for righteousness demonstrably found in no other source to this point in the epistle, this is supremely sweet news. This righteousness is not only utmost but unmistakably demonstrated; "manifested" in the King James Version is translated from φανερόω (phaneroo), which is the same word used after the resurrection of Christ when He suddenly appeared to the unexpecting disciples (Mark 16:12, 14; John 21:1, 14) [4] !

The righteousness previously unattainable is now available, but only through faith (verse 22). Verse 22 plainly states that even as all have equal condemnation under the law (verse 23), all have equal pardon through this channel (verse 24). This singular avenue affords the righteousness of G-d to be applied to or into ("unto" in verse 22 from εἰς or eis [5]) its adherents. It also overtakes them to be superimposed upon them ("upon" in verse 22 from ἐπί or epi [6]) to eclipse their baseness with His glory. Even as our sin was laid upon Christ (II Cor. 5:21), His righteousness is laid upon us. In other words, His righteousness is not simply added to our efforts in order to complete them, but it replaces them altogether.

This writer is reminded of his desire to be a faster runner in grade school. He was utterly convinced that if he could only obtain "faster shoes" that he would achieve this goal. He diligently saved his money until he was at last able to procure the brand name shoes that he desired, only to discover that new shoes did not supplant former legs! In the same way, since our righteousness is as filthy rags (Is. 64:6), His must cover ours completely rather than merely add to it.

Verse 24 develops this concept further in three parts: justification is 1) by His grace, 2) through redemption, and 3) it is in Christ Jesus. It is by His grace because it could never be earned (Rom. 3:28, 5:1, 8:33). It is through redemption, carrying the imagery of a ransom to be paid (as Yeshua spoke in John 8:34 and Paul later develops in chapter six of Romans). It is in Christ Jesus (I Cor. 6:11, Phil. 3:9), because He is the only One that Yahweh has declared worthy.

An additional (and refreshing) aspect of this justification is that it is given freely (verse 24). Although it cost the Savior dearly it is nonetheless free to us who were eternally unable to pay.

Its Effect (What it does)

Having the righteousness of G-d through Christ Jesus applied to us through faith in Him, we see in verse 25 in the third chapter of Romans an indication of the primary result of the process leading to justification. Paul asserts that Hashem exercises self-restraint (ἀνοχή or anoche [7], translated in KJV as forbearance) to affirm remission of sins. Remission is brought into English from πάρεσις (paresis [8]), which is only used in the Bible within this verse, but carries from its root a sense of tolerance through ownership. It is not that the Holy Almighty owns our sin, but rather owns responsibility for restraining His judgment upon One that He has already declared righteous.

The Apostle John touches on this concept (I John 1:9) when he states that G-d is faithful and just to forgive our sins when we confess; to simply forgive is not justice, until we take into account that our sin debt was paid upon the cross of Calvary (John 3:16-17). That idea is why Paul calls the death of Christ “propitiation” (Rom. 3:25). To quote one commentator, “The Bible word means to expiate by sacrifice. G-d has been propitiated through the work of Christ at Calvary; that is, His holiness has been so fully satisfied that He can now look again in favor on men.” [9]

Hence are men justified: not by our own works, but through despairing of them to the point of dependence upon the works of Him Whom G-d sent (John 9:4) to be our Redeemer. Through surrender to His path (John 14:6), we are adopted (Rom. 8:13-16) and made joint heirs (Rom. 8:17) to give us a future (Rom. 8:18) that we could not otherwise expect!

To quote a play on words heard in my youth, to be justified is as “just as if I’d” never sinned. To Him be all honor and glory both now and forever (I Tim. 1:17)!

Works Cited

(1) Webster, Noah. 1828 Dictionary of American English. e-Sword Version 7.9.8. Rick Meyers. Franklin, TN. 2008
(2) Strong, James. Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers. Nashville, TN. 1995, 1996
(3) Guzik, David. "Study Guide for Romans 3." Blue Letter Bible. 7 Jul 2006. 15 Jun 2008.
.
(4) Strong, James. Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers. Nashville, TN. 1995, 1996
(5) Ibid.
(6) Ibid.
(7) Ibid.
(8) Ibid.
(9) Phillips, John. Exploring Romans. The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. 1969. Page 85

Bibliography

Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, King James Version, AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN, 1984, 1991
Romans: Everyman’s Bible Commentary, Alan F. Johnson, Moody Press, 1974,1976,1984,2000
The Teacher’s Outline and Study Bible: Romans Volume 1, Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Chattanooga, TN, 1994
New Topical Textbook, R.A.Torrey, E-Sword Version 7.9.8, Rick Meyers, Franklin, TN, 2008
Romans Curriculum; Lesson 4: The Provision of G-d’s Righteousness (Rom. 3:21-4:25), Moody Bible Institute, 2003

Judgment of those who never heard

2008-07-12T12:47:00.002-04:00

In Romans this semester, one of our paper options posed the issue, "The Problem of the Person Who Has Never Heard the Gospel and the Justice of G-d". What follows is one explanation that can be offered:

The Standard - Holiness

The problem of those facing the wrath of a holy G-d begins with that holiness itself. Indeed, of all of Yahweh’s many attributes that could be acknowledged at the throne of the universe, His holiness is that which is proclaimed (Is. 6:3, Rev. 4:8).

Holiness springs from a sense of being completely clean (hence the primary Hebrew word qadash) or sacred (hence the primary Greek word hagios). Scripture gives a clear sense that Hashem possesses this quality to the extreme without equal, while mankind invariably falls short without exception. It is little wonder then, that when the Bible records encounters between humans and G-d, that they are commanded to remove their shoes (Ex. 3:5, Josh. 5:15, Acts 7:33) as the best attempt that they can make toward acknowledging the very holiness of His presence!

As the supreme possessor of the quality of holiness, Yahweh has every right to expect His creation to meet His standards (Lev. 20:17, Matt. 5:48, Eph. 1:4, I Pet. 1:15-16). Since He personifies the measure and created all that exists, it is not an unreasonable expectation. It is unreasonable, therefore, for His creatures to expect His condescension to our level.

As the supreme proprietor of the standard of holiness, Yahweh can not simply overlook disobedience of His Law or disdain for His sovereignty. Surely, a justice that ignores infraction is faulty, and in Him lies no fault.

The Situation - Depravity

Thus enters the second part of the problem of those facing the wrath of G-d, that being the fact that we are unable to meet His standards! Because of the failure of, and subsequent curse upon, our ancestors, we are genetically predisposed to failure (Rom. 5:12). Because each of us is related to Adam and Eve, each of us is lacking.

The depth of our depravity is not so shallow as to mean we need assistance to reach holiness, but rather so deep that we are beyond hope of attaining that status. The primary Greek word for sin, hamartano, carries the imagery of missing a mark (like an archer). In Romans 3:23, Paul emphasizes this point by doubling its image with that hustereo, meaning to fall short. “For all have sinned (hamartano - missed the mark) and come short (hustereo – fall short) of the glory (doxa, the standard of His dignity) of G-d.”

It is no wonder that Paul lamented that nothing good dwelt in himself (Rom. 7:18)! This sorrow was in spite of the fact that he could have been counted most favored among Jews by Yah (Phil. 3:4-6), yet even he recognized his own failure to measure up (Phil. 3:7-9). It is not hypocritical then, that in the first three chapters of Romans he demonstrates the inability of any human to overcome depravity, whether pagan (1:18-32), moral (2:1-16) or religious (2:17-3:8).

The Salvation - Christ

Looking back to the standard of total holiness, mankind would appear to be without hope. A shining beacon of hope emerges in the person of Christ; as our supplement states concerning the contents of the first chapter of Romans, “G-d’s righteousness is revealed in two ways – in salvation (1:16-17) and in judgment (1:18).” Judgment is certain for all, but Christ is available for salvation (Rom. 10:9-13) to “whosoever will” (Rev. 22:17).

As stated previously, it is unreasonable for fallen creatures to expect a faultless Sovereign to condescend to our level. Regardless, that is precisely what He has done, sending Christ to attain the mark for us that we were forever incompetent to reach (Rom. 5:8). This was not because of any redeeming quality in and of ourselves (Titus 3:5-6), but to show His unmatched love for all of eternity (Eph. 2:4-10).

While this is cause for joy and celebration for those who have forsaken the unworthiness of their own attainment (Is. 64:6, Rom. 3:10) for the unmatched righteousness of Christ (Rom. 3:20-22, 10:4, Phil. 3:9), what of those who have never heard of Him?

The Supplication - Ignorance

The third part of the problem for those facing the wrath of G-d is that countless multitudes are unaware of the only solution that He has provided. Compounding their dilemma is the fact that Paul makes it very clear that they will still be held accountable.

Romans 1:19-20 plainly states that the nature of G-d as a supreme power of order and logic can be readily observed throughout His creation. Psalm 97:6-9 powerfully expresses how nature bears witness to its Creator, and Psalm 19:1-6 manifests that its witness prevailingly transcends human language.

Since mankind’s depravity is universal and Yahweh’s justice is unimpeachable, punishment must be meted (Rom. 1:18), regardless of the level of ignorance claimed by the transgressor (Rom. 1:19-20). Judged by their actions in light of limited revelation (Rom. 1:21-32), they are doomed (Rom. 2:1-6).

For those who rightly see this as a tragedy, it should hone our zeal to fulfill our calling as “ambassadors” (II Cor. 5:20) to share Christ with those who have not yet heard the Gospel.

The Solution - Evangelism

To illustrate the process from common experience, we can consider a driver with no money in his possession that is exceeding the speed limit in an area that is unfamiliar to him. As a result, he is pulled over by a police officer and given a ticket that must be paid on the spot. The standard is the maximum allowable legal speed limit, while the driver’s situation is that he is breaking that law. His salvation could be found in either maintaining the speed limit or paying the fine, both of which are beyond his ability. His supplication by pleading ignorance of the speed limit falls upon deaf ears. He could have observed the fact that paved roads and signs of civilization clearly bespoke legal sovereignty to which he would be held accountable. His only solution would be others who could inform him of the speed limit to avoid judgment and pay his fine to avoid penalty. While admittedly a crude illustration, it can serve as a token for mankind’s responsibilities as stated thus far.

We see then, that the problem of the person who has never heard the Gospel in the conventional understanding of open Scriptures and proclamation of the good news, is not only a problem for the lost but for the saved! Since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word (Rom. 10:17), we are under enormous responsibility to fulfill our mandate (Matt. 28:19-20). We must redeem the time (Eph. 5:15-16) to share the good news of the Gospel with those who have not heard, but are still accountable (Rom. 1:20). Let us take up the creed of Paul as stated to the Corinthians (I Cor. 2:2, II Cor. 5:9-11) to focus only upon Christ.

“Therefore, knowing the fear of the L-rd, we persuade others.” (II Cor. 5:11, ESV)

Bibliography
Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, King James Version, AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN, 1984, 1991
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, Crossway Bibles, Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL, 2007
Romans: Everyman’s Bible Commentary, Alan F. Johnson, Moody Press, 1974,1976,1984,2000
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., 1890
Illustrated Bible Dictionary, M.G. Easton, M.A., D.D., 1897
Romans Curriculum; Lesson 1: Background and Introductory Material, Moody Bible Institute, 2008
Romans Curriculum; Lesson 2: The Power of the Gospel and the Need of the Pagan World (Rom. 1), Moody Bible Institute, 2008
Romans Curriculum; Lesson 3: The Predicament of All Humanity (Rom. 2:1-3:20), Moody Bible Institute, 2008

2008-04-26T11:01:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday and rest in peace to my dear old friend, "Juice". Fifteen years has gone by so quickly.

The Abrahamic Covenant

2007-02-08T11:09:00.000-05:00

This is a paper I wrote for my Old Testament survey class. I had fairly good feedback on it (although my professor wasn't as impressed as I would have hoped!).

The Abrahamic Covenant is a fascinating study, and one with far-reaching implications and ramifications.

The word “covenant” appears 293 times in 273 verses of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. The overwhelming majority of those appearances are in the Tanakh. The KJV Old Testament contains 272 uses of “covenant” in 254 verses; that is approximately 93 percent. Although the concept of covenants is all but forgotten by our modern society, they were obviously fundamental to the lives of people in Biblical times, particularly in the times chronicled in the Old Testament. Therefore, before looking into any particular covenant itself, one should first understand Biblical covenants in general.

The Easton Bible Dictionary (1) defines covenant as, “A contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means “to cut,” and hence a covenant is a “cutting,” with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Genesis 15; Jeremiah 34:18, Jeremiah 34:19).” As Easton notes, every time we see the word “covenant” in the KJV (in eight occurrences, it is implied only, rather than a direct translation [2]), it originates from the Hebrew בּרית, beriyth (H1285 in Strong’s Concordance [3]), which comes from the root barah (Strong’s H1262), or בּרה. The root means “to select”, which gains significance shortly when we look more closely as the covenant between Yahweh and Abram.

Lateral and Unilateral Covenants

Two types of covenant appear in the Bible, lateral and unilateral. Lateral covenants are agreements between two parties that hold responsibilities for both involved. If one of the parties participating in a covenant failed to uphold their covenant responsibilities, the other party was relieved from his responsibilities by default. Deuteronomy 11 contains an example of such, wherein Yahweh promises blessing and protection as long as the nation of Israel obeys His commandments. I see Zechariah 11:10 as a pronouncement by Yahweh that He would no longer honor His responsibilities under this covenant (this passage then continues in verses twelve and thirteen with a powerful and keenly accurate Messianic prophecy).

Unilateral covenants make Biblical appearances, as well. A prominent example is the Davidic Covenant, found in the seventh chapter of Second Samuel, verses 12 through 16, wherein Jehovah identifies the reign of the Seed of David, or Messiah, as forever. This is reconfirmed in Jeremiah 33:20-26, a passage that mentions not only the Davidic Covenant, but also the Abrahamic Covenant.

The Unilateral Covenant with Abram

The Abrahamic Covenant has its origins in the first three verses of Genesis chapter twelve. Abram receives divine promises of inheritance and blessing. The inheritance promised is a substantial tract of lands from Egypt to the Euphrates (in modern Iraq), a parcel that has never been fully occupied by Abram’s descendants. The blessing extends to Abram personally, as well as his descendants, to include “many nations”. This is the first hint that Israel will not be the only beneficiary of this promise.

The promises are reiterated in the next chapter. Verses 14 through 18 of Genesis chapter 13 must have caused Abram great awe in consideration. They should also cause the modern reader to realize that the inheritance was indeed an earthly and literal possession, particularly when coupled with the first ten verses of Deuteronomy chapter 30.

The Covenant Ceremony

As we reach the fifteenth chapter of Genesis, Abram is already beginning to doubt the veracity of Jehovah’s promises. The divine answer assigns him the impossible assignment of counting the stars in the night sky. In my mind, I can see Abram throwing his hands up in sheer desperation at the feat, then hearing the reassurance that his offspring will rival that multitude of heavenly lights. Verse six records that Abram’s belief counted for righteousness, a declaration reiterated by the Apostle Paul in the fourth chapter of his epistle to the Romans. Verse three records the transmittal to Abram, and verse five records a similar transmittal to all that believe likewise.
Abram desires a covenant ceremony at this time to signify the promises, and he receives divine instructions toward that end. We see a fascinating development, however, as Abram falls into an unusually deep sleep (one that I believe is divinely orchestrated). As Abram sleeps, Yahweh walks the beriyth alone, in the form of a burning lamp. This aspect identifies this covenant as unilateral. By this arrangement, Abram was under no obligations whatsoever, nor were his descendants. They were promised the inheritance and blessing regardless of their conduct.
Jehovah continues to reiterate His blessing in chapter 17 of Genesis, and institutes the sign of circumcision as a reminder of His promises to what will become the nation of Israel. It is interesting to note that those who are not circumcised are to be “cut off from his people”, but no mention is made of being cut off from Almighty. It is also at this time that Yahweh changes the names of both Abram and Sarai. The slightest knowledge of Hebrew construction reveals that the name changes were affected by merely adding one character, the “Heh”. This is also the character representative of the Holy Spirit, which becomes significant to the New Testament believer.

Jehovah further repeats the promises of the covenant through Isaac, the promised son of Abraham, in Genesis 21 (verse 12) and Genesis 26 (verses three and four). Isaac’s son Jacob also receives confirmation in Genesis chapter 28 verses 14 and 15. The unilateral nature of the covenant is apparent in the fact that both of these offspring were undergoing times of rebellion at the time of their receipt of the promises! Even after all of these patriarchs have passed away, the entire nation receives an assurance of the covenant in verse 42 of Leviticus chapter 26.

The Covenant's Modern Applicability

Moving forward in time to today, we might ask, has the historical nation of Israel truly been beneficiaries of the Abrahamic Covenant? They are truly a nation that has flourished in spite of circumstances. Never in history have a people been recipients of such focused attacks at completely wiping them from the face of the earth. From the attempts of Pharaoh in the book of Exodus, to the attempts of Haman in the book of Esther, to the maniacal efforts of Hitler’s Third Reich, and even the modern aspirations of the so-called Palestinian Arabs, the Jewish people should, by all rights, have vanished from human history. The most callused observer, if honest, would be forced to admit Divine protection on this unique group of people. I have heard it stated that, “every time you meet a Jew, you have witnessed a miracle”. (4)

While the personal and national blessing might be simpler to prove, the inheritance portion of the covenant seems to remain unfulfilled. The Jewish nation has certainly never completely inherited the entire Promised Land. Indeed, modern efforts by Israeli administrators seem bent on reversing that very hope.

Many in the fundamentalist camp have argued that Israel, by rejecting Yeshua as Messiah, forfeited their rights, which then default to the church. Without digressing, one can accept this heresy only by completely disregarding several entire portions of Scripture, most glaringly chapters nine through eleven of Romans.

If the Abrahamic Covenant is truly unilateral, Israel has not and can not forfeit her rights to blessing and inheritance promised through Abraham. This fact points then, to a yet-future fulfillment of Jehovah’s covenant promises. Jeremiah spoke of this in chapter 31 of the book that bears his name, from verse 33 to the end of the chapter.

Yeshua Himself pronounced a judicial blindness upon His chosen people in the nineteenth chapter of Luke’s gospel, as He also foretold the coming destruction of the beloved Jerusalem in 70 AD. Paul quickly clarifies in chapters nine through eleven of Romans that individual Jews can still receive the blessing through faith, although national acceptance is still future.

Not Forgotten

As we see the seventieth week of Daniel (9:27) rapidly approaching, we are seeing the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of the dry bones (in chapter 37 of Ezekiel). Israel is being gathered back into their homeland, never to be scattered again. The stage is set for national revival after the oppression of the Antichrist forces them to turn back to Yahweh for help (Hosea 5:15). As their King returns to earth with ten thousands of his (church) saints (Jude 14), He will set up the Messianic rule promised to Mary (Luke 1:32) and fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant in full during the millennium (Revelation 20:2, Isaiah 65, Hebrews 8:6-13).

"Many nations..."

All of this does not exclude the church, however. Our lives are intertwined in the unfolding of this real-life drama. Remembering that Israel is one nation among the many nations that were promised to Abraham, and seeing that promise echoed before the Heavenly throne in Revelation (5:9), we look outside the national borders and lineage of Isaac to others touched by this far-reaching covenant. David hints at this in Psalm 25, verse 14: “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant.”

Galatians chapter three is the linchpin of this glorious hope for us as Gentiles. Verse six recounts that Abraham’s faith was counted for righteousness. Verse seven develops the thought that all that are of faith are his spiritual seed. Verses eight and nine complete the concept that the fulfillment of the covenant is found in this precept.

As New Testament believers, we have received the literal indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). As Abram was changed in name by the addition of the “Heh”, we are also changed. He received a new name and purpose under the Abrahamic Covenant. Under the same covenant, we receive a new name (Revelation 3:12) and a new character (Second Corinthians 5:17). Although we don’t all share the outward sign of physical circumcision (Galatians 6:15), we have the lasting circumcision of heart of which Paul speaks in Romans chapter two.
The Abrahamic Covenant may be misleading in name. While it was made with Abraham, it affected so many more, the number of the stars throughout history who are the “whosoever will” who become his offspring through faith in His lineage through David, Yeshua ha Meshiach.

Works Cited

(1) M.G Easton, M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1897
(2) I Samuel 11:2, 20:16; I Kings 8:9; I Chronicles 16:16; II Chronicles 5:10; Nehemiah 9:38; Psalm 105:9; Isaiah 57:8
(3) James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, 1890
(4) Unknown

Where's my gas mask?

2007-01-11T14:27:00.000-05:00

Greetings once again to all after a lengthy silence. For those of you who still check in from time to time, I thank you and pray this will be rewarding.

School has started again, and this semester finds me enrolled in Elements of Bible Study and Old Testament Survey. One of our first assignments for the latter involved studying the lives of the patriarchs and applying their circumstances to a current life situation in which we may find ourselves or someone we know. A conversation at work last week reminded me of a story from my days in the Corps that merges perfectly with a lesson I gleaned this week from the life of Abraham.

Combat Town

We were training in urban situations, and I should lay the background first. Another sergeant and I each had a small squad with differing missions surrounding Camp Lejeune’s Combat Town. My squad had a primary mission to reconnoiter the town, with a secondary mission to map the area; the other squad had the same missions in reverse. We both knew the town was occupied by a small platoon, but our mission briefings merely stated that the area contained no friendly forces and we had support from neither artillery nor air. Simply stated, “you’re on your own, baby”. No problem – it was a gorgeous spring day, and I was ready.

The town itself is actually a small one, with several one-story buildings and one or two two-story buildings surrounding a three-story town hall. I was positive that the enemy would at least have observers in the town hall, but the whereabouts of the rest of them was a mystery. I had the benefit of knowing each of the members of the enemy force, as well as knowing that they classically had poor “window discipline”, coming too close to windows when observing the area, thereby revealing their own positions.

Coming up to the outskirts of town, therefore, my initial strategy was to lie in wait in the underbrush just outside the town and merely observe. My purpose was two-fold: to possibly force impatience to override discipline on the enemy force’s part, and to allow the other squad’s sergeant to ignore primary orders and force an engagement.

After probably 45 minutes, with my first purpose surprisingly disappointed, my second was predictably not. The other squad entered the town and a firefight erupted. I was shocked to discover that the platoon occupying the town had apparently chosen to man only the town hall, leaving every other building presumably vacant.

“This is going to be easier than I thought,” I was thinking as I led my squad through a ditch that paralleled the town and dashed into the back of the town. Although there was a wide open field behind the town that spanned approximately 100 yards, we were unspotted. The enemy had their attention focused on the other patrol that was attempting to take cover in the buildings of the town.

The sun was shining down in North Carolina Spring fashion, and my patrol was intact, unscathed and in good spirits as we got into town and assembled in a building directly across from town hall. Several smoke grenades had merged in the streets with the smoke from hundreds of rounds that had been fired, intermingled with the sweet combined smell of sulfur and gunpowder. I was feeling good!

Panic

As I was mentally calculating the logistics of getting my patrol across the street and into the front door of the town hall to begin clearing it, I turned to notice my assistant patrol leader had donned his gas mask, and my feeling of euphoria began to dissipate into irritation as I noticed at least one of my troops was frantically following suit. I interrupted my reverie of bloodlust to admonish this corporal for overreacting and spreading his fear of CS (tear gas) to the rest of the patrol. He apparently assumed the whirls of white smoke swirling through the town from the grenades were actually gas.

We were carrying smoke and CS grenades, so it was a safe assumption that the enemy had equal supply. My irritation sprung from the fact that even if it were gas, the wind was blowing briskly enough to render the gas a minor irritation at best, and the harm he was inflicting on morale and effectiveness far outweighed the effects of the gas – assuming it were gas in the first place.

Perhaps...

I had just calmed this young warrior sufficiently for him to sheepishly remove his mask (and made a mental note to make further, sterner follow-up when this was over) when this encounter’s allegedly neutral observer “popped” a grenade on the blindside of the building where we were sheltered. As thick white clouds billowed around the corners of our building into the windows both front and back, that same corporal began to move more quickly than I had ever seen from him, fumbling to once again don his gas mask.

Even more quickly than his jerky, unpracticed motions, my irritation turned to anger. Yelling over the noise of the firefight, I assured him it was only smoke. To prove my point, I took a dramatically large and over-exaggerated inhalation. It was a split second later that my body let me know that I had just taken in two lungful of CS!

My assumption of control over the situation and foolish sense of familiarity had lulled me into a false sense of security. I tried to keep my composure, but I think I still got my gas mask on before he did!

Spiritual Assumption

This story came into my mind as I read of Abraham’s life. Christians occasionally have the tendency to place great heroes of the faith on theological pillars, overlooking the fact that they were human just as we are. An honest look at the life of Abraham reminds us that he was certainly no exception.

The most obvious example that occurred to me was in Genesis 12:10-20, where he presumes upon God’s protection and feels he must lie about his marriage to Sarah. This is a mistake he repeats with Abimelech in Genesis 20:1-18. Glaringly in the first instance, he had just received the promise of blessing by God (12:1-3)! In both of these circumstances, the ill effects caused consequences beyond just Abraham, but all of those involved.

In attempting to understand why, I noticed that an earmark of Abraham’s existence was his communion with God; we see obvious evidence of this in 12:7, 13:4, 21:33, and 22:13-14, in recorded instances of purposeful worship. Yet these blatant errors in judgment I’ve mentioned were times when Abraham leaned on his own understanding instead of letting God direct his paths (to paraphrase Proverbs 3:5-6).

The lesson is that when we wander from the protection of regular communication with our loving Father, we risk stepping into areas from which He would prefer to keep us (and those with whom we come in contact).

But I'm not Abraham

Dear Christian, have you ever noticed that the times you fall the hardest is when you thought you had the firmest grasp on the situation? Ignore the warning signs, overlook the possibilities, pay no heed to others around you, and just forge ahead – what could possibly go wrong?

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to
will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find
not. (Rom. 7:18)

Oops, forgot about that one. That’s why Paul urged the Philippians to have no confidence in themselves:

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in
Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Phil. 3:3)

As Christians, we have an enemy…one more real than the enemy I faced that day in the town. He’s watching us (much like I watched the town before entering), and like my patrol that day, we’re on his territory. That’s why Peter warned us:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (I Pet. 5:8)

I know that picturing the Christian life as a battle, or anything remotely resembling difficulty, isn’t exactly in vogue these days. If I were to listen to the Osteen ilk, I could expect nothing but placid prosperity and incessant victory without effort by simply demanding deliverance from God as my cosmic genie.

I’d rather stick with what God Himself said (I Cor. 9:24-27):

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.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as
one that beateth the air:
But I keep under my body, and bring [it]
into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should be a castaway.

Don’t assume safety, beloved. Paul pictured this life as a battle in Ephesians six. Keep that armor on…and that gas mask handy!

Suprised

2006-12-25T11:09:00.000-05:00

You scored as Anselm. Anselm is the outstanding theologian of the medieval period.He sees man's primary problem as having failed to render unto God what we owe him, so God becomes man in Christ and gives God what he is due. You should read 'Cur Deus Homo?'

Anselm

80%

Karl Barth

73%

Jonathan Edwards

73%

John Calvin

67%

Martin Luther

60%

Charles Finney

60%

Jürgen Moltmann

60%

Friedrich Schleiermacher

33%

Augustine

33%

Paul Tillich

27%

Which theologian are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

Back by semi-popular demand (at least three people)

2006-05-30T15:17:00.000-04:00

It has been such an active past few months; I scarcely know where to start. I have spent a small amount of time on myspace.com and Yahoo! 360, and have even begun a page on the newly released xianz.com, but the lion’s share of my time has been occupied by work, with church and school coming in a distant second and third.

Work has been quite enlightening. As I deal with the public of New Hanover County, I am in awe on a near-daily basis at the multiplicity of ills that humans can inflict upon themselves and each other. It serves as a regular reminder of the ancient curse enacted by our first ancestors’ disobedience and the very modern need of mankind’s need for a Savior.

I am also occasionally frightened by the similarity between some of the calls I take and my previous life before coming to Christ nine years ago. It has become a weekly cause for humility and thanksgiving that “there, but for the grace of God, go I”.

Memorial Memories

With Memorial Day yesterday, I began to think of some of the fine warriors with whom I had the privilege to serve through the years. Two in particular came to mind; both were extremely young, one still in her teens and the other just beyond that point.

In this health-conscious society where the average life span is growing exponentially, we often choose to forget our true frailty and mortality. Even in the military sector, where death is a daily threat, it’s easy to shove those thoughts to the back of one’s mind, particularly in peacetime, during which both of these fatalities took place.

Ebonee

Ebonee was a precious girl, effervescent, vibrant and energetic. My favorite memory of her involves one particular day when she walked into my office during lunch break to discover me playing solitaire. She stood behind me for a minute before pointing out a card placement which I had overlooked. My response was an obviously rhetorical question, “What’s the name of this game?” to which she replied, “Let Ebonee hep yoo so’s yookin weeyun (Let Ebonee help you so you can win!)” It was such an unexpected and unconventional answer that I had to laugh, although unexpected and unconventional were her defining characteristics.

It wasn’t long after that, she took leave to drive home and make preparations for her wedding. From the police reports, she took a curve too fast and rolled her car several times, throwing her unbelted body through the open window and crushing her during one of its rotations. At her memorial service, I wept unashamed at the loss of such a truly beautiful young American.

Chris

Chris was as unique as his name was ordinary. A self-imagined pool shark who rarely won, he too, was full of the energy and ambition of youth. Barely into his third decade, he left our unit to be temporarily assigned to a shipboard unit bound for a six-month presence in the Mediterranean Gulf.

Halfway through the tour, Chris began to cough up blood, and was promptly returned Stateside, where he was examined at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia. (I have long held that particular hospital liable for many incompetent diagnoses, this case among them.) They ran some tests, which they determined in their folly to be inconclusive, and sent him back to our unit with instructions to seek further help at our Battalion Aid Station if his condition got worse.

As even the most medically ignorant could presume, it did in fact worsen. He was sent to the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, and they were prepared to refer him back to Portsmouth. I urged Chris to request Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland instead, which he did. There at that first-class facility, they were able to determine in short matter that he had developed lung cancer in the Gulf; medical inaction had allowed the cancer to spread into both lungs. It was too late at that point to do anything but house him in a terminal cancer ward and await the inevitable. He died far too soon after that.

Where from here?

Thoughts of both of these young people yesterday coupled with my experiences at 911 to reinforce the foolishness of the presumption of longevity. We are on this earth for such a short time – some shorter than we would think equitable. Either way, we are confronted with the challenge of James 4:13-15:

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and
continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not
what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that
appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to
say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Why? Because this life is merely preparation for what is to come. In light of eternity, our spans here on earth are less than a drop of water in the ocean!

Dear reader, if you have not settled this issue in your own mind and life, know for a certainty that none of us are immortal (in the conventional sense), and none of us have the power to presume upon tomorrow. Life is too short to merely exist, vainly hoping for some legacy or blindly searching for some reason or meaning.

Jesus Christ settled once and for all the mystery of eternal life. We all will live forever, but the question of where we go when we pass from the land of the dying into the land of the living is up to each of us. The resolution lies in how we respond to the source of all truth.

If you are reading this and are unsure of how to put this matter to rest in your own life, may I point out to you the link to the left entitled, “What Christ is all about”? Please visit that site, and if it leads you to a decision, I’d love to hear about it. Either way, please don’t put it off.

2006-02-25T21:51:00.000-05:00

Yeshua said:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28-30)

So much has happened in the month since I last posted that I have material in abundance, but I wanted to break the silence with some brief thoughts. I have felt twinges of guilt for not remaining regular, but more so of late. This little page has received visits from all over the world as a result of searches on some serious queries. I’m choosing to take that as my own small contribution to Biblical studies, and continue as I can!

The passage above has become more real to me in the past few months. It brought me back in my mind to my time in Okinawa about twenty years ago.

I was out on a run, and decided to leave the base and explore the back roads of Gushikawa, a charming little town directly outside Camp Courtney where I was stationed. It was a lovely day, not too humid or sunny, so I was in great spirits as I passed a field where some local men were harvesting sugar cane.

I have to pause to describe the scene. The road was narrow and unpaved, sharply elevated about six feet from the field alongside which it traversed. Parked on the road was a flatbed truck upon which they placed the cane they were cutting and bundling. They were wizened old fellows who looked to have an average age of 60-70, and were about half my size. They were lugging bundles that looked to be roughly their size and weight.

My desire to be a good ambassador overrode my critical thinking as I decided that I could add to my workout by helping them carry these bundles to the truck while simultaneously proving that I was not an “ugly American”. With visions of Rocky IV in my mind (which had just been released a few years prior), I communicated to these bemused farmers my intentions through broken Japanese and gestures.

In immediate retrospect, I realized the reason behind their good-humored reluctance to allow me to “help” them. I failed to understand that these men had been doing this for decades and their bodies had been toughened to the strain, something that was not apparent to my young and naïve eyes – until I attempted to copy their practiced routines. In short, those bundles were HEAVY! In fact, they were a little heavier than I was prepared to carry, but I put on a brave face as I literally staggered under the weight to the edge of the road.

If you recall, the road was on a sharp incline above the field, and that area became the place where a brave face no longer mattered. I could NOT manage that sugar cane up to the road, and the farmers all had a good collective hearty laugh at this American’s expense as they not only had to help me out of the field, but had to do so without the bundle on my back. I think I managed my embarrassment only marginally, as I bowed and continued my run straight back to the barracks, where I collapsed in exhaustion.

Draw this into the spiritual realm, as we so often struggle with loads that are beyond our capacity. Good-naturedly, our Father tries to deny us the effort, but we brusquely insist upon our pride, whereupon He meekly steps aside and patiently waits for the moment He knows is coming, where we have to turn to Him and admit what He already knew -- that we are too weak.

Beloved, Christ knows better than we do what we are capable of carrying. He has been trapped in frail human flesh and can empathize with every fear, every joy, in fact every circumstance. If we sometimes wonder why we face struggles, it may be that He is either proving to us what we can bear, OR He is waiting for us to put it down so He can carry it.

If we are truly in Christ, we may be lonely, but never alone. We may be burdened, but need never be overcome. If you are facing trials, ask Him if you were meant to do so. If not, take His yoke upon you, and learn the sweetness of laboring in His strength instead of your own. His strength is made perfect in your weakness (II Cor. 12:9), and you can do all things through His strength (Phil. 4:13), then thank Him for counting you faithful (I Tim. 1:12)!

Beware Takiya

2006-01-19T14:26:00.000-05:00

Greetings to all after an involved week!

Today, Reuters and the Associated Press are breaking the story of a new tape purported to be from our old friend, Osama bin Laden. As I post this, AP is also reporting CIA sources as identifying the tape to actually be the old weasel himself.

Normally, I don't pay these tapes much mind when they "surface" -- they usually say the same things anyway. However, today's episode contains a truce offer! Here's the text of the tape.

Praise be to God, our conditions are always improving, becoming better, while
yours are the opposite.

Really?? I may be unemployed, but I'm not hiding in a cave somewhere, wondering about my next dialysis treatment.

Iraq has become a point of attraction and recruitment of qualified resources.

Is he talking about terrorism resources? The recent peaceful elections in Iraq and their growing sovereignty is what throws me off.

At any rate, I find it provocative that bin Laden sounds a lot like American liberals, no? If the rational reader finds it ironic that the fox surfaces in the midst of international disgrace and a losing cause to offer a truce - as if it's his to offer - may I offer an opinion?

Getting to the subject of this post, I couldn't help but think of the Islamic principle of Takiya, which has historically been used by Muslims losing a conflict, and needing time to rest and regroup. Most famously, Muhammad himself used it in the Hudaybiyah region to put the residents of Mecca at ease before breaking the truce and conquering them two years later.

Arafat used this same term after the Oslo "peace" accords with Israel to reassure Palestinians that their time was coming to drive the Jewish people from their God-given land.

Takiya, to the Arab, means to lull the enemy into a false truce in order to strengthen your position and resources to eventually attack an unsupecting target.

I can't help but wonder if this is the same concept bin Laden has in mind now. If so, we have no option but to stay the course. Freedom is on the rise (regardless of the hopes and aspirations of the liberals and terrorists).

With all my qualms with the Bush administration, I am very glad that we can count on them to respond strongly to this latest bluster.

2006-01-10T21:15:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about an incident I endured in 29 Palms, California in the early nineties. I flew from Camp Lejeune to "the Stumps" for advanced training at Marine Corps Communications-Electronics School (MCCES). A group of us arrived late at night into Palm Springs, then were bussed to our destination, where we received billeting and finally got to bed at about 2 A.M.

We awoke at about six o'clock to begin the process of "checking in", a method of taking a photocopied sign sheet to each segment of the command in order for our inclusion into each database or file system (medical, dental, mailroom, etc.). MCCES is on a sprawling base, and since none of us had vehicles, we skipped breakfast to make better time.

By the time lunch was close at hand, we had walked a couple of miles in the California desert heat, with no food for hours and little sleep, and I was feeling a bit light-headed when we decided to make the medical department our last stop before getting some chow.

I was seated in a school desk chair (you know, the kind where a half-desk wraps around one side of a straight-backed chair) and had a Navy Corpsman with a broken arm come in to draw a vial of blood from me. Normally, getting blood drained from my arm isn't high on my must-do fun list, but as I watched this hapless sailor fumble around with the tourniquet band and needle I was becoming uneasy!

As I started getting queasy and began seeing small white spots of light in my field of vision, I was wondering if perhaps this was a bad idea. That was the last thing I knew until I felt a blunt pain from a hard blow to my chin; I had passed out and slid right out of the chair, stopped only by my face meeting the desk!

In immediate hindsight, I realized the lack of sleep and food, combined with the physical exertion and heat were just too much, even for a 25-year old Sergeant of Marines. I discovered that day that I was not invincible, after all!

I can apply that to current circumstance. I was recently contacted by an old friend (correction: a long-time friend!), who asked how I was handling all that was happening right now. To quote her (because I don't think she'll mind), I have quite a full plate.

I suppose I do -- I know there are others who have handled, and/or are handling much more. She (correctly) pegged my dear Dee as a major source of strength, but I would also have to testify to the strength that comes from other than human sources. Much as I learned over a decade ago, I have to come to terms with the fact that I am no more invincible than I was then.

Psalm 37:23-26 says:

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth
him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen
the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

If that is true {and I know it is}, if I allow my Daddy to set the course, I must follow it, and let Him take care of the details. Behold, God is my helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. (Psalm 54:4) For he shall deliver the needy when he cries; the poor also, and him that has no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
(Psalm 72:12-13)

Matthew chapter six is an excellent reflection for us in this time. Yeshua reminds us that we can behold the beauty of nature, knowing that Hashem provides for even the little birds and flowers, and challenges us to look beyond daily needs.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we
drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(Matthew 6:31-33)

Will I keep all of this in mind, even as Mike is still in the hospital showing little sign of improvement, I have no immediate signs of employment, and I'm not sure how next month's bills will be paid on time? I can only say I'll try to remember that I'm not invincible, and if I mind how I maintain life, He'll mind how we sustain life!

All of this is temporary. All of this won't matter soon. All of this will be further proof of His faithfulness, and I'll be saying:

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon
him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
(Psalm 145:18-21)

2006-01-09T23:27:00.000-05:00

Today, I got a vivid reminder of one reason I love North Carolina -- the weather.

I used to have a commanding officer that said, "If you don't like the weather in Southeastern North Carolina, just wait 15 minutes!" I've heard that same expression used in other portions of the country, but I'm just biased enough to snort derisively {okay maybe not, but doesn't it just sound good??}.

Overnight last night, it was almost freezing. Tonight, the brood sat down to enjoy our latest Netflix proffering (more on that later), and the following thought occurred to me as I waved away an insect that flitted past me. I'm sitting barefoot in my second-hand easy chair (picked up for a steal at a roadside sale) in front of our open front door in shorts, wondering if I should change out of sweatshirt into a t-shirt -- in January (residents of the north, I'd apologize, but it wouldn't be sincere!)!

I'm thinking of reconsidering wearing shorts, though. A week or two ago, my mother-in-law stopped by to drop off a few things for my lovely bride, and I walked out on the back porch (in shorts) to see her off. It was then I realized that she had a couple of her friends with her, one of whom just happens to be a wonderful family friend and member of our Sunday School class. This friend is a dear woman in her 60's, originally from New York City, who is very opinionated and not hesitant to share her opinions with anyone within earshot. She opened her window of the car to remark, "Oh Lee, you got some nice legs!"

I share that story in order to share this one. My mother-in-law brought a woman to church yesterday who originally met us when we went to a Christmas party at Gresham Place (where Mama lives). Before I started teaching, I walked over to greet our visitor, who was sitting with Mama and this aforementioned friend.

As I walked away, these three ladies were talking loud enough for me to hear the visitor remark that I had a wonderful smile. The former New Yorker responded, "Yeah, and you should see his legs!" As I pondered responding, I heard Dee speak up, "He's mine!" I dunno, does the average Sunday School teacher deal with this???

Exciting news today! Ted Kennedy is publishing a children's book!! Is this really credible? Is this not like O.J. Simpson or Robert Blake writing a book on marital intimacy?

We watched a comedy video tonight that I wasn't sure I'd like. However, the Blue Collar Comedy Tour is a gem. I laughed so hard, I'm pretty sure my heart briefly stopped! As the video ended, we were all still rolling, and one of the Arrows said,
"I have to go to the bathroom, and I don't know if I can make it!"
"Get out of your mother's chair!!"

It's been awhile since we all laughed together quite so much -- it was a nice break.

It's late, and I really should end this. Love to all...

2006-01-07T19:47:00.000-05:00

Is 2006 over yet?

We are one week into the new year, and it feels as if months have elapsed! The eldest Arrows returned from Alabama spiritually super-charged to discover that their dad was in intensive care with extremely odd and life-threatening symptoms, my sister is recovering from pneumonia, one of the young adults from the church the Arrows attend on Saturday has been discovered dead, we have a contact from the Christmas outreach at Gresham attending church tomorrow, and the job search is still in progress with no immediate resolution in sight.

Is 2006 over yet?? It's been said that life is what happens while you're busy making other plans...{sigh}

I don't know how many of you wasted the necessary time to view NBC's new nighttime soap, "The Book of Daniel", but if you didn't catch it, you can be thankful. You didn't miss anything. Well, not anything but a comedic farce masquerading as a serious commentary on American society. Oh, and they made the central character an Episcopalian priest so they could generate publicity by the predictable outcry over the blasphemous and insulting content.

I daresay if the show included Muslims and Mohammed in place of "Christians" and Christ, this wouldn't even be an issue, because they wouldn't risk offending that minute percentage of the population. What I still can't fully understand is why it's supposed to be alright to offend the majority of Americans that claim the title (if not the lifestyle) of "Christian".

I performed my obligatory duty of contacting the local NBC station before the first airing. The response letter I received is as follows:

Greetings:

Thank you for taking the time to e-mail us your concerns regarding the
NBC show "The Book of Daniel". We appreciate your views and have forwarded your
e-mails to NBC executives.

It's important for you to know that the show is not as it's being
portrayed. I waited to respond to you until we had actually seen the first
episode. Yes, it is about an Episcopal priest with a dysfunctional family that
represents a composite of some family issues familiar to many parents and
children today. The priest has the ability to see and hear Jesus as he goes
about solving his family's and church's problems. Is it edgy? Yes. Is it
anti-Christian, disrespectful or blasphemous? We don't believe so.

After reviewing the premiere episode, we have decided it will air on
WECT this Friday as scheduled. We've spoken with a large number of General
Managers at NBC stations throughout the country, many of whom are deeply
religious, and, after viewing the pilot as we did, they have also decided to air
the program. As of this morning, not one NBC station in the entire country has
decided to censor this program. I understand the controversy that has been
created in anticipation of this show, but I really believe, in this case, the
vast majority of the residents of Southeastern NC and Northeastern SC prefer to
choose for themselves which programs they want to watch and which ones they
elect not to watch.

My suggestion to you is this…you really have two choices…you can watch
the program and make an informed decision for yourself…or you can choose not to
watch it. That's the way free choice works in this great country. If you don't
like a particular program, turn it off…vote with your remote...watch something
else. I'm not being flip. If enough viewers refuse to watch a show, the network
will cancel it. And that's the way it should work. I shouldn't be making the
viewing choices. You should. Because it's a free country and that's the way we
should keep it!

While we understand that some viewers will not watch the first
episode...or any episode...of "The Book of Daniel", we hope you will acknowledge
the many other fine programs provided by NBC and WECT, including WECT's 22 hours
of #1-rated local newscasts each week, our 24/7 weather channel WECT Weather
Plus, the locally-filmed NBC hit "Surface", ACC Basketball, The Downeast
Gardner, and, this February, the 2006 Winter Olympics from Torino, Italy on
NBC.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to communicate your
concerns…we really do listen. We may not always agree with each other, but you
can always be sure you were heard.

Warmest regards,
KD Karl Davis,
Vice President/General Manager
WECT-TV
322 Shipyard Blvd
Wilmington, NC 28412

Okay, so I followed his advice.

The Father (Daniel) is a pill-popping, cigar-smoking, foul-mouthed justifier of sin whose only redeeming quality is that he truly loves his wife. He makes one attempt at quoting Scripture in the entire two-hour pilot, and can't even do that right (the writers have him quoting from "Corinthians 10", apparently overlooking or being ignorant of the need to designate which one). He has regular visits from "Jesus" (usually in conjunction with popping his "Canadian headache pills with a small dose of codeine"), a vision that seldom says or does anything in character with the Lord and Savior that I know.

He has a Catholic priest friend (because apparently, the producers wanted to offend another segment of Christianity) who has mob ties, an alcohol-dependent wife, and more plot twists than should be in any long-running show. I don't see this show lasting very long, even if Christians don't keep pressure on the advertisers.

Daniel's daughter, Grace may have summed everything up perfectly when she said, "This is a family of freaks." If you want to know more about this idiocy, you can read about it here.

I'll end this now. I value your prayers: for our country, for our local brothers and sisters in the Lord, and of course, for us.

2005-12-31T14:13:00.000-05:00

Here it is, the final day of 2005. At the risk of sounding cliche, the year has gone by almost too quickly. At the same time, it's also a relief that it's behind us now. Bittersweet...

I'm as restless as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs today, and can't quite isolate the reason. I think part of it is the fact that the three oldest Arrows are not only out of the house, but out of state.
They're attending a teen worship gathering in Northwestern Alabama; they left before sunrise on Thursday, and won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. I miss them like only an old Papa-bear can.

In the meantime, we have the twins for entertainment. As we sit here, and Dee is having them try on winter clothes (yes, it's finally cold weather here on the coast), we've been listening to Paul Wilbur on the new stereo my dear Rib got me for my birthday. As the three CD's just finished, I interrupted this post to take requests from Dee.

One of her requests (as not-so-subliminally suggested by Josh) was a CD we gave the Arrows for Christmas, Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia. As I began searching the CD rack for it (which at one point was alphabetized) with no success, I was informed (by the true requester of same) that it "should be on the rack". That means as much to me as "a Republican-controlled government should be smaller" -- in other words, roll the dice, buddy!

After a brief and fruitless search of the area by the man of the house, he proceeded to walk over to the rack and immediately pick it out, with a triumphant, "Here it is!". As I surveyed the vacancy from which it came, I realized my filing error (remember, I was searching alphabetically). As I retorted, "Oh, I should have looked for it between Stuart Little and Luther Vandross!" Priceless...

So, we have an election year encroaching, and November will be upon us before we know it. In the interest of edu-ma-cating my beloved readers, I have included a new link in my Links column to the left.
Since it is quickly becoming time to think about organizing the links in some fashion, I'll spare you the trouble of ascertaining which link is new. It's a link to the national headquarters of the Constitution Party. If you are as tired of broken Republican promises as I was several years ago, you may want to familiarize yourself with this alternative.

I'm a little frustrated with the organization (or lack thereof) of our state's party, but at least the national platform is sound (and Biblical). Of course, they haven't had much of an opportunity to prove themselves faithful to that platform, but I'm looking forward to it.
Really, how could Christian conservatives do any worse than the Reflublicans? At least with the Demobrats, we can expect to be overlooked, but the GOP does it in spite of our support. Phooey on them (and you can quote me on that!).

The clan and I were watching Gettysburg a few nights ago; one of my all-time favorites (along with its prequel Gods and Generals, and most likely its soon-to-be-released sequel, Last Full Measure). Unlike movies like Glory, it is well-researched and actually historically accurate.

As a Civil War aficionado, I have difficulty wholeheartedly endorsing either side of that important conflict. I hasten to explain that remark, particularly since my ancestors were all Union, fighting in regiments from Ohio and Illinois.

From the Union perspective, I can appreciate the honorable effort to preserve the fragile experiment that was elected democracy, as well as end slavery (an abominable institution that almost split the confederacy of the thirteen colonies before they began as a nation).
However, from the Confederate side, I can also fully appreciate the intent to remain sovereign states, as the Founding Fathers intended. Bonnie Blue!

Anyway, we were discussing the battle at Gettysburg as the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy", and what a difference was made by the Union victory. The natural companion to that discussion is, of course, the results had there been a Confederate victory. That victory could arguably have predicated an ultimate end to the war.

I think what makes Gettysburg so intriguing is the near-myriad factors that (combined and/or by themselves) would have changed the outcome of the battle. For instance:

What if...

JEB Stuart had been available to provide reconnaissance for Lee's army?
Union General Buford had not had the foresight to seize and hold the high ground the first day?
Confederate General Heth had not ignored his orders to avoid fighting until Lee's army was fully in place?
Union General Reynolds had been delayed by weather and prevented Heth from destroying Buford?
Confederate General Ewell had followed Lee's desire (and General Trimble's zeal) to take Round Top before the Federals did?
Confederate General Longstreet had not allowed his hesitancy to attack without Pickett to delay his action on the second day?
Federal General Warren (not portrayed in the movie) had not realized the vulnerability of the Union left flank, leading to the posting of Col. Chamberlain's 20th Maine on Little Round Top?
Chamberlain had not invented the impromptu maneuver to repel a determined Confederate charge that might otherwise have prevailed?
Confederate General Hill's health (not portrayed in the movie) not confused troop selection to ensure fresher troops be used in the assault on the Union center?
Confederate Colonel Alexander's artillery had been able to provide the support that Longstreet desired for his assault on the Union center (an assault that almost succeeded)?

Any one of these could have allowed a Confederate victory over a timid General Meade (a timidity proven by his failure to pursue Lee across the Potomac, thereby prolonging the War). That was the topic of our family discussion -- what if the South had been permitted to maintain sovereignty as a separate nation??

The ramifications are immense, and I will undertake some of them in another posting.

Have a safe and blessed new year, dear saints. Until 2006, I bid you all farewell.

2005-12-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

Merry

CHRISTMAS

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

(Isaiah 7:14)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

(Isaiah 9:6-7)

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

(John 1:14)

2005-12-16T12:52:00.000-05:00

Behold the holiday cometh!

I don't know why I started that way, it just seemed the thing to say (whoa, that rhymed - that was perfectly timed. Hey, it happened again - who'd have thought so then? Hey! Well, never mind...).

I am in good spirits, for no apparent reason other than I am a child of the King, Christmas is almost a week away, shopping has been done for awhile, and all is well in the Doulos world.

It's the rest of the world that concerns me!

I'm carefully watching the Patriot Act reauthorization circus. The House disappointingly passed it yesterday, and it moved on to the Senate for consideration today.
Actually, I just checked on it, and it's a dead horse. Not to be denied though, I'll proceed to beat it for a few minutes.

Having held a sensitive clearance for several years, I fully understand the clandestine society of the intelligence community. I am not enough of an extreme Federalist Patriot to demand full disclosure of governmental workings. I personally know enough of what happens behind the scenes to know that the average American would be appalled at some of what our government calls legitimate activities.
At the same time, I would fully expect some measure, however small, of justification for maintaining such an invasive (and unconstitutional) "blank check" of intrusion into the daily lives of Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public. Perhaps I've missed it, but all I've heard in defense of the (laughingly called) Patriot Act is vague, general, vacuous, lame statements (with no specifics whatsoever) of how many American lives have been saved by the law-enforcement tools authorized by this travesty.
Sorry - I'm not from Missouri, but pretend that I am, anyway. Show me! If national security reasons prohibit details too specific, I understand, but there has been no attempt to defend it other than what equates to, "We're the government - trust us". Ain't gonna happen, Cap'n! Not with this patriot.

As if to prove the point, the story has broken (I believe the timing is a little too perfect) that the FBI utilized spy satellites after the Oklahoma City bombings (pre-Patriot Act), and the NSA spied on thousands of Americans with only the scantiest of justification.

I rest my case.

In case government nosiness isn't enough, we have some liberal elements of our fellow citizens that are attempting to impose their will upon the rest of us.

We have one group presuming to "speak" for polar bears. This is all based, of course, upon assumptions of global warming, which has yet to be scientifically proven in the first place. We then further compound the outing of our stupidity by the fact there is no count available of the bears, before or after these imagined events. Something tells me this should be a fairly quick court case -- but then again, it's in a San Francisco court, which is in the ninth circuit. Perhaps there are results to be feared, after all.

Since polar bears can't object to being "spoken for", cases such as that are almost to be expected. However, the liberal "butt-in-skis" have capitalized upon previous successes and are attempting to further build upon their "we-know-better-than-you-so-shut-up-and-let-us-help-you" dynasty. I'm not a smoker, but this tragedy has me incensed (pun intended)!
Get out of my life!! Mind your business!! Butt out (pun intended again)!!

You know, in all the other happy events, I completely missed the opportunity to make an entry at the conclusion of "The Biggest Loser". If you recall, back on the September 21st entry, I identified Matt as our family favorite, and Nick as having issues.
How nice for our posterity that at the finale, Matt won and Nick didn't bother to attend! I'm a bit disappointed with the rumors that Matt is now dating Suzy, one of the other finalists. I'll leave that alone...

I will send along wishes once more of a wonderful Holy-Day season for each of you. Some of you we'll see soon, others even sooner, but see each of you we shall!

2005-12-10T08:12:00.000-05:00

I just left the U.S. House of Representatives website, and had an interesting education.

Not about the House. Not about the website.

About the Democratic party.

I was looking for information on H.R.4437, which is a bill I'm going to be closely monitoring, because it could potentially lead to the creation of a national I.D. card. If that seems harmless, let me tell you that my libertarian sensibilities scream at the further intrusion into our lives charmingly packaged in "safety" and "convenience".
At any rate, the bill is in both the Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees in the House, but Thursday, it was marked up in the Judiciary. I went to the Judiciary Committee to see who its members were, and discovered that the Democrats have their own, separate committee website. Somehow I've missed the fact that this is the case on every committee at which I looked.

Can you believe it? This is the party that accuses the Republicans of being partisan. It's no secret that the two parties can't work together on a national level, but they can't even play nicely in a small group! I left comments to that effect on the Judiciary "Minority website", and my computer locked up. I find that tragically ironic...

A few days ago, for no apparent reason, I remembered the time I dyed my hair. That last statement will shock any and all who know me, so I thought I'd share.

In my California school days, it was in vogue to be tan. Weekend activities invariably included dozens of us "laying out", slathered in tanning oil, proffering our bodies to the sun.
A couple of my buddies (who were probably from the West Coast) introduced me to the use of peroxide, with the temptation to lighten one's hair to complete the "beach bum" look. As a Marine, I didn't have much hair to begin with, but I've always been the sort to do nothing in moderation, so I profusely applied it to my head one fateful weekend.

The instant my scalp began to burn, I should have chosen to heed the omen. I mean, really, my hair color is dependent upon its length, anyway. The shorter it is, the lighter it is, so it was actually unnecessary. Eighteen-year olds don't fully think through things, though (or at least this one didn't).

The following Monday, I received a less-than-desirable reaction from my superiors to my now freakishly bleached stubby locks. In fact, I was summoned before the academic supervisor for questioning. As I recall, he was a Staff Sergeant, which at that stage in my career, was just a few steps short of demigod status.
He demanded of me my ID card. In retrospect, his strategy was to graphically demonstrate my "destruction of government property" (me) by pointing out that my appearance no longer matched my picture thereon.

To my defense, the (black and white) picture quality was of such low quality that it was of no assistance in such charge. To further confound his case, I was still in denial about the true red color of my hair, so my ID card indicated my hair was blonde.

He concluded his bluster by sternly warning me to "knock it off" and dismissed me. It would be quite some time before I would be "called on the carpet" again for any refraction whatsoever (several months, I think!).

How about it? Any hair adventures (or misadventures) out there? I'd love to hear about them, as I'm sure the two or three readers of this blog would!

Have a wonderful weekend, beloved!

2005-12-08T15:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Holy Days! If I were strictly fundamentalist, I might be more involved with the current fervor over "Merry Christmas" being replaced with "Happy Holidays".
However, those who insist upon "Merry Christmas" overlook the fact that:
1) Christ Mass was originally a Roman Catholic holiday, instituted with the purpose of absorbing into the "church", pagans who observed Saturnalia. Never mind the fact that our Savior wasn't born in winter, else the shepherds would not have been in the fields "watching their flocks by night".
2) Chanukkah also normally falls around the same time. Since fundamentalist Christians serve a Jewish Messiah, and learn of Him through a Bible written by mostly Jewish writers, this is not a holiday to be overlooked. Chanukkah is even vindicated by the Bible itself (see John 10:22).

Dee and I were discussing this last night, and we remembered the last controversy over the Christmas season. Remember the outcry against the use of "Xmas"? Whatever happened to that fight? It begs one of two (or both) questions:
1) Have people largely stopped using that abbreviation because of the Christian protest?
2) Was it originally instituted as an insult to Christ, but discontinued when it became known that "X" was commonly used in the early church as an abbreviation for Christ?

At any rate, I hope each of you are having a blessed season, regardless of what you may choose to call it! I think if we remember that G-d looks at the heart (I Sam. 16:7), and out of the heart come the issues of life (Prov. 4:23), and what comes from the mouth originates in the heart (Matt. 15:18), then the words of the greeting are of less import than the purpose behind them.

Once again, I started with one train of thought in mind, and drifted into another altogether different! I'll save the now completely unrelated story for another time...!

I had another interview yesterday, this time for a sales manager position for a national insurance company. The interview went wonderfully -- until the point in the screening questions where I disclosed past tax issues. End of interview.
The state insurance comissioner will not allow anyone in North Carolina to be bonded who has outstanding tax issues. Unfortunately (or blessedly), that precludes my being bonded. That's a long story, but the short version involves a military member assigned overseas for a year. Said military member trusts his spouse to file joint tax returns, and even sends blank and signed 1040-forms. She proceeds to file individually, as well as claim thousands of dollars in business deductions for herself, leaving her husband to discover a few years later (during legal separation) that he owes a great deal of money to the Infernal Revenue Service (who are blandly unsympathetic to his plight). {Sigh}

No matter, this waiting time is a growing time. Psalm 37:25 promises that we will not be forsaken, and Matthew 10 and Luke 12 remind us that our Father even sees a sparrow fall to the ground (the lesson being that He sees our needs). I could include Matthew 6:25-34 as well, but I hope my point is made!

We do continue to value your prayers, and we do look forward to seeing each of you, either here in the land of the dying, or when we get home to the land of the living!

2005-11-26T23:16:00.000-05:00

I trust that each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

It is also my sincere desire that you took even a few minutes to recall the intent of the day and for the abundant blessings for which you could give thanks. I think if most of us gave even a half-hearted effort to count all of our blessings, we would be enumerating them even still!

None of our regular readers were among those trampled at the Wal-Mart in Oregon, but what a tragic indictment of our society! I have to wonder if news footage of that event won’t be used for more Al-Qaida training videos to show how decadent and twisted American society is? I have to applaud that hearty soul that stayed at the door and tried to shield that hapless woman from the clueless mob streaming past (and over) her.

Speaking of clueless, Jay Leno had as a Thanksgiving night guest, the infamous Lindsay Lohan. I’ll get to her in a moment.

The entire audience was comprised of members of our Armed Forces; all five branches were represented. Jay’s opening monologue reflected how ignorant the Hollywood and entertainment types truly are concerning our military. Poor Jay had a bevy of jokes, most of which were lame, ill-timed, and borderline insulting to his guests. How wise is it to denigrate the administration and war effort when your target audience is partial to (and subordinates of) that administration, and integral to that effort? Jay’s writers seem to have forgotten to incorporate that question as they concocted those sophomoric attempts at humor.

Then came Lindsay Lohan. Jay attempted to put her on the spot by asking her to name her favorite branch of the military. Her response was, "Air Force", to which Jay countered, "Why the Air Force?"

Lindsay’s reason for favoring the Air Force? "Y’know? Top Gun?", triggering an ugly roar from her former fans there in the studio. She attempted to quell the obvious anger by going on to say, "C’mon, I love all you guys!", but I think the damage had been done at that time.

(Note to Lindsay Lohan: What the Tonight Show attendees knew, and you missed, is that Top Gun was a movie about NAVY pilots!)

In Lohan’s defense, at least she had a favorite military movie that does not have (like most of Hollywood’s portrayals) a not-so-secret agenda to show the military in the least-favorable light possible while still remaining profitable. She is still young and ignorant of the sacrifices made daily on her behalf by America’s warriors worldwide.

I have no issues with ignorance. Ignorance is simply lack of facts, and can be easily addressed and corrected. Ignorance is temporary – stupidity is permanent. Stupidity is ignorance presented with facts, and then ignored. Stupidity and outright malfeasance are the maladies that are rampant in the entertainment industry in America. How strange that the industry is populated by those that think patriotism is defined by maligning American virtues, virtues held by the majority of our society, the very ones they accuse of being out of touch!

The entertainment industry and icons simply do not understand the defense industry, no matter how they may wish to appear as doing so. If anything, I suppose that should be a comfort. It means that our armed forces are still somewhat safe from the enemies within.

Moving along to the more immediate homefront, I had the privilege of a job interview this week. Wednesday, I interviewed for a retail store manager. The woman conducting the interview was a district manager overseeing three stores, none of which need a manager right now. As a result, she is contacting her supervisor, who should be calling me back soon. The interview went well, so I anticipate that call.

There’s still no word from Illinois, but we have no fears. If Daddy wants us there, we’re willing to go. For that matter, we have committed to go wherever He may lead us. As I may have mentioned before, the pressure is not on us beyond daily submission to Him. He is the one Who has promised to provide, and what a joy and relief that is!

I wish all of you a wonderful weekend. "The LORD bless you, and keep you. The LORD make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up his face toward you, and give you shalom." (Num. 6:24-26)

2005-11-19T18:27:00.000-05:00

Greetings once again to faithful readers and accidental discoverers!

I include that last part because there are occasional visitors to this blog from all over the world. This little page has had hits from various locales in the United States, and even a few from Europe! Most stay for a second or so, then move on, but a few have chosen to check back in from time to time, and to those I extend my humble thanks. I’d like, if I may, to direct a few words to you.

I truly don’t know what chord I may have struck with you, but if you have chosen to stay, I am reckoning that you are either:

(1) a believer in Christ, in which case I look forward to seeing you "at the house"

-- or --

(2) a seeker of truth, in which case I sincerely desire that you find that which you seek in the only source of truth, the One who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."(John 14:6) He also said, "If you continue in My word, you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:31, 32, 36) And what a freedom He brings! To learn more, link to "What Christ is all about" in the "Links" section.

I share Paul’s sentiments to the Corinthians, "As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting" (II Cor. 11:10), because we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth (II Cor. 13:8). Many who come to this page may not like what they see, but "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Gal 4:16)

If you are in the first category above, you know that we are in the times of the signs (II Tim. 4:3-4). I trust that you are studying the truth of the Word (John 17:17) to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed, because you are rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Tim. 2:15). You can stand, having your loins girt about with truth (Eph. 6:14), and join with the Beloved disciple (I John 1:5-10):

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." (John 16:13)

If you haven’t read the first chapter of Ephesians lately, I highly recommend you pick it up today; stop reading this if you have to – nothing I say could match its beauty and uplifting comfort! Go ahead, I’ll be here when you get back!

I hadn’t intended to share any of this, but once I started, it just came. I won’t apologize – perhaps one of you needed it (or just me). At any rate, I pray that it blesses you.

I had a wonderful night out with my dear Rib last night. Dennis Swanberg was in town, and we had been given two tickets. The Arrows suggested that we leave them at home, and with only slight hesitation, we did so!

Dennis is a wonderful speaker – if you ever get the chance to hear him, live or recorded, do not miss it! We also had the joy of encountering his wife purely by accident (unless you don’t believe there are any accidents!), and she is a true gem.

We sat behind a brother who may have caused quite a scene in some fundamental churches. He looked the stereotypical biker, complete with grizzled beard and ponytail. He was dressed in black, complete with a t-shirt that read (front) "Satan Sucks" and (back) "Jesus Saves". But what a Spirit-spark was in his eyes!! We had the privilege of speaking to him briefly, and even discovered that we had some mutual acquaintances. It was a wonderful night, and we even got back to a peaceful house!

I have had some inquiries about employment; I have nothing to report as of yet. I’ve applied to over twenty positions (and we’re still hoping for the position in Illinois), but still awaiting any responses.

Yesterday marked a new step, since I finally received my final severance pay. I don’t know this for a fact, but apparently the corporate office wasn’t informed that we were separated with any kind of bonus. We had been told that we would receive an additional two weeks salary, plus any accrued vacation. So, for the past two weeks, I’ve been receiving a regular paycheck (albeit with medical and dental deductions, which I rather resent), and yesterday received my vacation pay.

I know that YHWH is my source and not the company for which I worked, but that doesn’t completely stop the new sense of uncertainty that accompanies the knowledge that money is no longer guaranteed from a known source. Yes, unemployment benefits start next week (at a rate half my former salary), but this is a heretofore un-experienced (if I may coin a word) sensation.

Nevertheless, I view it as an opportunity for Abba to build our faith. Besides, He has been miraculously faithful thus far. I value your prayers and look forward to sharing more with you as the circumstances develop.

I close by going back to my opening thoughts with one more passage (I John 5:6-13):

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and thesethree agree in one.
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is
greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Aren’t you glad we can know??

2005-11-10T22:06:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to the world’s finest fighting force – the United States Marine Corps (or Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children – or Urine Samples Make Civilians, as some have discovered over the years!).

Yes, 230 years ago, in Tun Tavern in Pennsylvania, the mysterious breed known as Leathernecks, Gyrenes, Devil-Dogs, and Jarheads (for internal use only, thank you!) was birthed. Many a conflict has come and gone, and Marines have continued to distinguish themselves as the premier first to fight, expeditionary force in readiness. Semper Fidelis and happy birthday to my brothers-in-arms.

In light of this encouraging occasion, I find it difficult to be morose. To be further blessed as a child of the living G-d, what reason could I find to be discouraged?

Of course, by the time most of you read this, it will no longer be the tenth. So in that case, Happy Veterans Day! "If you love your freedom, thank a vet"; or better yet, "have you hugged a vet today?"

It may be a surprise to regular followers of this invective (first of all to see a post after such a prolonged time, but…) I will not make any gloomy observation or attempt any poignant proclamation. My heart is light, my spirits are buoyant, and I will leave well enough alone!

I will sincerely apologize for the scarcity of posting as of late. I have taken note that some of you have been faithfully checking in with this site, and a few have even emailed me to ask what has been happening. I have stayed offline for the majority of each day to keep the phone line open, and in the evenings, my time online has been limited to the job hunt.

I have applied to several openings, and have yet to receive any word yet from any of them, but I know this is to be expected. There is one in particular that I have my heart set upon, and am praying for earnestly; I won’t detail it in any fashion, but the good news for some of you is that it is close to the frozen tundra that I formerly called home. That’s all I’ll say for now, because it may not be in Abba’s will.

I know that this is short, for which I am truly sorry. May our Father bestow upon each of you His richest blessings until we meet again, or pass from the land of the dying to the land of the living…

2005-10-17T11:47:00.000-04:00

Oh, yeah -- I have a blog, don't I?

Fall has err, fallen (I know it's overused. So sue.) . I love this time of year, right before it turns too cold to be pleasant. It's odd, because I never particularly cared for autumn growing up. It may have had something to do with school...or perhaps the fact that autumn in Illinois is practically Arctic weather, I don't know which (or both?).
I may get comments on that last remark, but I guarantee that it won't be from anyone who's had a flying soccer ball smack them in the bare thigh when the temperature is in the upper forties. I was never any good at soccer anyway, and in retrospect, I have to wonder what on earth I was thinking. Who in their right mind runs around in shorts in that weather??

While on the topic of school, I heard at last from the VA, and have been approved for full G.I. Bill funding for enrollment at Moody Bible Institute. The new semester begins in Mid-December, so I'll keep the two or three readers of this soliloquy posted. The news came at a crucial time last week when I was becoming disillusioned with the current quest for employment, and was a real bright spot in an otherwise partly-cloudy week.

I know Daddy has a place for me out there, so the real challenge is not wanting to know NOW (can anyone identify?). Hey, I could always become an artist, since apparently all it takes is a twisted mind, and I've met that requirement for years!

Moving along in no particular logical sequence, it occurred to me today that my years of service in the defense of our great nation has marred me for life in at least one area (great confession time): constant attempts to construct acronyms syndrome (CACAS, I guess? Wait, I just made it up, so I don't have to guess -- that's what I'll call it!)

Oh, the military loves acronyms! Some examples that come to mind:
SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus)
MARS (Military Affiliate Radio System, which is actually the interface with HAM radio)
POL (Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants)
HUM-V (which is actually HMMWV -- High-Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle, or some such rubbish)
CUC-V (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle, because apparently "pickup truck" doesn't sound military enough)

One of my all-time favorites was one that appeared on daily reports from military airports, because it was an abbreviation within an acronym within an acronym: POH (PAX [Passengers Awaiting Xfer {Transfer}] On Hand).

I don't know why, but over a decade of exposure to the incessant barrage of acronyms has dragged my mind to the point that even now, when I hear or see a long name, I mentally attempt to deduct the appropriate military form of the name.

Perhaps over time, a cure for CACAS will emerge (which is rather doubtful, since its sufferers are few, and this tragic disease is so rarely properly diagnosed), but until then we will be forced to endure silently (FTES). {sigh}

Rather than end on a depressing note, I'll end with great news: the Smurfs have been bombed! You read that correctly -- the story is here, and the video is here (40 seconds into the clip). I never did trust those little blue freaks, anyway!

Keep smiling, beloved (KSB)!!

2005-10-07T09:29:00.000-04:00

I detest rain. I really do.

Lest I offend any agri-readers, I hasten to acknowledge that rain is essential. I am fully aware of its necessity. That said, I also acknowledge the necessity of root canals. (Whoa, flashbacks of Chuck Barris!)

For the past two and a half days, it has rained continuously, and my nerves are grating. If I lived somewhere like Seattle, I think I'd be borderline psychotic. I was talking Wednesday night to a dear sister in Christ, and she told me that rain energizes her. Not so your humble narrator -- precipitation tends to make me one moody, gloomy, dreary schizo.

It may also be exacerbated by the fact that we were informed Wednesday by my employer of six years that our positions are being absorbed into a center in Florida, and in two weeks, we'll receive a small severance package and walk out the door the final time.
I certainly don't fault the company. Utilities protection is a cutthroat, low profit margin business, and the ever-elusive bottom line is difficult to control. The fact that we even received any sort of notice whatsoever is a true boon, with a severance package an extreme rarity.
That doesn't alter the fact that the always-unknown future contains a larger-than-ever question mark. We sat down with the Arrows and talked them through it. We are choosing to take it in faith, and (as I shared with Dee) the calm that has settled in my spirit has surprised even me.

If you blinked this week, you probably missed a more monumental event. I shudder to think of the implications of this move. Hidden taxes imposed upon ISP's (passed on of course, to us, the end users)? Unprecedented levels of monitoring? The much-awaited arrival of the .XXX domain? Whatever the result, I believe it is but one more step toward the global control necessary for the Coming World Leader (aka the AntiChrist).

On a lighter note, but almost as ominous, is another story across which I stumbled. Whatever happened to, "Your freedom ends where my nose begins"? My hat is off to Southwest Airlines, because this kind of stand is increasingly becoming both rare and unpopular (probably a connection there). I can remember a time when a person (particularly a young woman) wouldn't dream of owning such a shirt (or at least wearing it in public), let alone expecting the "right" to do so.
Yes, now that we are a more "tolerant" and "progressive" society, the only unwelcome stand left may soon be the one that you take for Christ.

Speaking of rights, I found this rather telling. What do you think of Mister Esseks's view on education? Quite enlightening, is it not? Parents don't have the right to dictate the education of their own children? I have known for some time that the mindset of most professional educators is typical liberal philosophy ("we're smarter than you, so just shut up and let us handle this for you, because we care"), but situations such as this serve only to confirm my concerns.
"If parents don't like it they can homeschool, they can go to a private school, they can go to a religious school. " Thank you, Mister Esseks, that's precisely what we'll continue to do!
From where does this level of audacity come??? It's been coming for awhile -- it started when we thought it prudent to protect our children from anything harmful, a noble pursuit in itself; but where does it stop? I've been holding onto this column for a few weeks, but it fits in here very well.

Sure, give over all control to government and other agencies who claim to know better than you what is best for you. Be a lemming, fit in, trust the professionals, don't bother to think or question. And (pardon the expression), G-d forbid you follow Scripture (after all, it's just so difficult to understand). And while you're at it, try to overlook the fact that our government gave us this situation!
They're trying, though; just perhaps we can hope that we'll someday reach the point in our government schools that we can be just like Cuba!

I'm sorry if this posting has drifted toward the negative or sarcastic; it might be the weather. I'll do my best to post more this weekend, and I'll try to make it more upbeat.

As always, may the peace of Christ rule in your hearts and minds, beloved.

2005-10-01T20:27:00.000-04:00

It has been an interesting Doulos week.

Firstly, jury duty came and went fairly uneventfully.

The first case involved a young man charged with possession of marijuana and possession with intent to sell. I was not selected for that jury, and as I understand it, the only charge for which he was found guilty was the simple possession charge.

The second case, for which I was also not selected, involved another young man. This fellow was charged with driving on revoked license, failure to yield to lights and siren (I didn’t even know that one existed!), and resisting arrest. I never heard how that trial turned out.

The final case, to which your humble writer became a juror, involved a middle-aged woman. This was a fascinating study indeed. She was charged with possession of stolen property, which may initially appear to be a simple matter. Ah, but dear readers, the older I get the more I realize that precious little is what it seems!

The facts of the case were:

In May of 2003 (did this take awhile to work through the judicial system, or what?), a Wilmington landscaping retailer had a dozen John Deere riding lawn mowers stolen in an unusual manner. Apparently, the mowers were secured in a fenced compound between two outbuildings with only one means of entrance (a rolling gate with a sturdy padlock). For additional security, a Dodge pickup was parked directly in front of said gate. I must also point out that the mowers were at the extreme rear of the compound, with all manner of equipment stored in front of them. The thief (or thieves) dragged the truck out of the way, cut the lock, moved out the extraneous equipment, stole the tractors, and moved the additional equipment back into the compound. They absconded with the mowers on an unknown means of conveyance (suffice to say it would, by necessity, require a very large trailer).

In October of 2003, a local man was told by his employer that another employee (the defendant) was selling a riding lawn mower. He introduced himself to her, obtained directions to her house in Pender County, and consequently visited her on the following Sunday. He noticed two other similar lawn mowers under a tarp in her back property, but turned his attention to the mower in question. He noted serious wear, and offered her 700 dollars, which she grudgingly accepted (a new mower of this type is worth over 2000 dollars – it is, after all, a John Deere!).

The very next day, the new owner, with the mower still on his trailer, happened to take it to the very business I mentioned earlier. His intent was to either have them repair it, or to procure the necessary replacement parts to facilitate repairing it himself. The business ran the serial number through their computer, and proceeded to shock the new owner by informing him it was one of the dozen of its ilk stolen five months prior!

The Wilmington Police Department confiscated the mower, and detectives were dispatched to investigate the defendant and her property. Upon their arrival, they found the defendant not at home, but briefly questioned her son, who left shortly thereafter. They noticed the two other mowers under the tarp, and initiated a check on those serial numbers. The check revealed that one was also among the "dirty dozen", and one had been reported stolen from a Jacksonville-area (approximately 40 miles north) business!

At the outset, this would still seem to be a simple case, would it not? However, at least in North Carolina, a prerequisite condition to convicting someone of possession of stolen property is that the state demonstrates that the defendant has knowledge that the property is stolen.

I listened intently as the state presented its case, eliciting a half dozen objections by the defense in the process, most of which were sustained. I heard a rock-solid case demonstrating the defendant’s possession of the mower (complete with pictorial proof), but wondered why they invested so much of the court’s time proving a point that the defense had conceded. As the assistant district attorney concluded her case, I was puzzled. My mind was blaring, "There is absolutely no demonstrated proof of knowledge!"

It may have been my imagination, but the judge seemed surprised as the ADA rested her case. I (perhaps vainly) imagined that he was thinking the same thing as was I. The defense asked permission to approach, and the judge had the bailiff remove the jury from the courtroom. When we were allowed back in, the judge informed us that the case was closed.

We were never informed of the reason, but I have my suspicions. I’m certainly no "legal eagle", but I’ll share my insights with you.

I never heard any indication of the presence of a husband to this woman (else, why would she alone be charged?), so my presumption is that she is a single mother to at least two grown children (one son and one daughter, which was revealed during state testimony). It was also intimated, until successfully challenged by the defense, that her daughter is incarcerated. The reason given for the attempted sale of the stolen mower was to recoup a loss incurred by one of multiple worthless checks that the defendant’s daughter and her boyfriend had written. There was an unrelated investigation of an assault involving several vehicles, one of which was owned by the defendant. Other than the three mowers recovered in this case, none of the other mowers in either theft has been recovered, nor did the state explain the means of transporting them.

My conclusion (which, I admit, may be completely wrong) is that this single mother has…how shall I put it?…some bad kids. The state wanted to charge her children, but she refused to assist them, so their reprisal was to threaten her with this charge of stolen property. If my conclusion is correct, I must say that I am happy that the state failed this case, and this woman is deserving of the dismissed charges. If she is guilty of anything, it is of overprotecting her children, a charge I am unqualified to make.

Moving on to other issues, I wanted to share an incident for which I must embarrass myself for your benefit.

Over the years, I have discovered a malleable quality of myself with regards to my speech patterns. I seem to have an unconscious and loathsome propensity for adapting my vocal inflections to match my surroundings (my writing similarly does this, as my style occasionally reflects whatever author I am reading at the time). I first discovered this vocal quirk quite embarrassingly as a teenager while visiting Bob Jones University. I was talking to a student with a very pronounced lisp, and answered a question in the affirmative by responding, "Yeschh". I was horrified, because he rightfully assumed that I was making sport of him, when I actually was not.

While residing in Asia, I am sure that my speech patterns became more singsong (I have noticed a beautifully musical quality to most Asian dialects, which the reader may observe most readily if talking with recent visitors from China).
I completely surrendered to this quality ten years ago when living by myself; the bulk of my contact with others was comprised of a country music station in Jacksonville. My parents could testify that when I briefly moved to Illinois, I had an extremely pronounced twang (I refuse to call it an accent, because that is a relative term). I still carry that twang now, particularly when fatigued, when it becomes quite pronounced.

I share all that to preface an encounter between Dee and I that occurred just last night. I had teased her by calling her impossible, and followed up by saying, "But I still love you and everything". I thought that I had said it exactly as you, the dear reader, have just read it. She responded by mimicking what she heard, which came out as, "But I luv’ya ‘n’ ever’tang". I protested at first, but realized that I was extremely tired. One of her myriad good qualities is that she, without a doubt, keeps me humble!

One more story before I close: as I was out today, I drove past a used car lot. It’s a seedy establishment, you know, the kind that doesn’t even have the pretentiousness to call its inventory "pre-owned". I glanced over and my eyes lit upon what was quite possibly the ugliest car on the lot. I won’t describe it for fear of offending a reader who might happen to drive one, but suffice to say that even owners of such a vehicle would readily admit their ownership out of sheer necessity.

What caught my attention was a hand-written inscription on the windshield that simply read "No sale". My first thought was, "Who would want that?", followed immediately thereafter by, "What pomposity to presume that someone else could possibly desire that eyesore to feel the need to post its established ownership!"

Then a spiritual application rushed in that filled my eyes with tears as I later related to my dear Rib (Dee). Are not each of us who are redeemed exactly in the same place as that old car? Our enemy and the world around us may look us over critically, and proclaim our unworthiness. "Who could possibly want anything to do with THAT pitiful, broken-down wretch?" But with true pride of ownership, the Lover of our souls loudly declares, "I have bought that wretch with My precious blood – no sale!" Glory hallelujah, amen and amen!!

I have much more to share, but will presently withhold it in hopes of enticing you back. As always, feel free to use the comments link below, and I will "talk" with you all (y’all) later!

2005-09-23T15:53:00.000-04:00

Ashley singing like an angel at our most recent Gresham Place service!

2005-09-21T22:49:00.000-04:00

I have found many reasons to neglect posting, but I have delayed long enough.

I mentioned that we survived Ophelia with minimal effects. Mama didn't have it as well in her apartment at the heretofore-proclaimed hurricane-proof complex. The roof was damaged by winds, allowing rain to stream down the wall of the apartment above hers, then down her bedroom wall. As a result, her carpet has been removed by the maintenance personnel. Again, as comparative damage goes, it was relatively minor, but I don't imagine the hurricane-resistant qualities of that building will be quite as loudly declared in the future.

You know, I feel for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, but even more so as time elapses and stories come to light. That aside, and from a purely political perspective, it is incredible to witness the wrangling and opportunistic maneuvering taking place in the past couple of weeks.

Louis Farrakhan has now made it official that he no longer maintains any grasp on reality. Having gotten a glimpse of how our government truly operates in my years of holding the clearance I held for many years, I must admit that I have, at times, held what could be viewed as an extremely negative view of American "democracy"; however, Farrakhan makes my level of trust look like a kindergarten student's!

Have you noticed how a crisis brings out the true colors of liberals? To illustrate, I submit this. I'm afraid that, were that to happen here, you'd be reading my prison blog shortly thereafter.

Speaking of the true colors of liberalism, it's nice to note that Bill Clinton is still a ground-breaker. I never did credit him with much class, but this even surprised me. The Chinese seem to have caught on to his legacy, though! What a riot!

Many of you know that I have been closely watching the situation on the Korean peninsula. Recent news developed so rapidly that I missed an "I-told-you-so" opportunity.

When it was announced a few days ago that the DPRK (North Korea) was willingly abandoning its nuclear ambitions, I was suspicious. It simply was not in keeping with their behavior, and I fully planned to share that with all of you. Had I acted more quickly, I could be feeling smug in my intuition.

Scarcely 24 hours later, they announced their expectations that in exchange for their complicity with international demands, the United States should provide them a reactor. Now that is the North Korea I know! That is one regime that has been consistent only in its unhinged capacity. Here's a great review of the situation.

While I'm on the topic of conservative news, I have to share this. I'm beginning to wonder when, if ever, the former elite will wake up and realize that the stranglehold they formerly held upon public opinion is, and will remain, a thing of the past. You have to admire Matt Drudge; he held his ground for years while the mainstream media dismissed him as a "gossip columnist" and "rumor-monger", even while he continued to scoop them on major story after story. He was, if you recall, the one that broke both the Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky scandals.

Is anyone as disillusioned with television as am I? There seems to be less and less of any value on the networks.

For instance, a Peter Jennings tribute? What was that all about??? Shouldn't tributes be reserved for individuals of note? Honoring Peter Jennings for his longevity in the media machine made about as much sense to me as dealing with Yasser Arafat simply because he survived long enough as a terrorist to considered a viable peace partner. I know I can't be the only one who thinks like this...

We stumbled onto "CSI: Miami" the other night. What on earth happened to David Caruso? Did he somehow get stuck with all the years that Dick Clark missed? He used to be my age, but now he looks like he's about two years shy of a hundred. {Sigh}

We have enjoyed the new season of "The Biggest Loser" thus far. We have found our family favorites and razzes already. I am surprised by how quickly I have developed an affinity for Matt, but I really do like him. I don't particularly care for Nick; he has deeper issues than a weight-loss competition can address, and I feel a bit sorry for him.

I caught the premiere of "My Name Is Earl" last night; as a former Mahayana Buddhist, the promotions sparked my interest, so while Dee took the Arrows to Awana last night, Michael and I sat through it. It was disappointing, of course. If you check your Christian worldview at the door, you may find it cute, but there's not much redeeming value there.

In my new man, I am confounded by what I thought I found in Buddhism.

First of all, the "law" of karma is simply the Biblical concept of "sowing and reaping" in different packaging (yes, I know Buddhism pre-dates Christianity, but even pagans can occasionally find a few elements of truth).

Most importantly, however, it never occurred to me to wonder: if there is no G-d of the universe, who determines what is good and bad? How can one live conducive to moral law without a moral law-giver?

I've had this argument with an atheist, who told me that "one can be moral without being religious". I had a two-fold response to that:

1) I'm not religious, I'm a Christian (there's an enormous difference, which is what Matthew chapter 23 so powerfully demonstrates).

2) Presupposing that there were no difference, if you don't acknowledge a Divine authority, who decides what is right and wrong? Oh, you can counter that with societal expectations and such, but to quote Ravi Zacharias, "In one society, you love your neighbor, while in another, you eat them. Do you have any personal preference?"

Needless to say, I have never received a satisfactory response to quell this issue. Suffice to say, whether or not an individual chooses to believe in YHWH, it is a choice that requires faith to sustain it. The frightening issue is, if a Christian is wrong, what is the result? Nothing! If an atheist is wrong, what an eternally tragic mistake!

If you're still with me, dear reader, I have claimed your attention long enough. I do thank you, and I'll close now.

2005-09-19T13:58:00.000-04:00

Our new co-worker...the wind was blowing a bit, and it was impossible to catch a shot of her when her web was completely still.

2005-09-15T15:10:00.000-04:00

As evidenced by the existence of this post, Ophelia left us unscathed. We "suffered" only a loss of power for four or five hours. If that's the worst we face this year, I'll happily take it.

We did not end up relocating, but took what little chance there was at the Doulos shanty. My primary concern was any tornadoes that may have been spawned. After the fatalities (one of whom was a close friend and roommate to an Arrow cousin) from last year's visitor to Rocky Point, I would have to admit it weighed heavily upon my partially-sanctified mind. A far more secondary concern was the power. One of the few drawbacks to living with a well is: when power goes, water goes.

We did make a startling discovery once the worst of the winds passed us; the top of one of the trees in the front yard snapped right off. It was about ten inches in diameter and ten feet in length, and could have caused some damage. However, it inexplicably fell straight down, and the only damage done was the hole it impaled into the ground. The angels were on duty and all was serene -- we didn't even know it happened, and we were all right there in the living room just a few feet away!

Thank you for your prayers; I hope to share more in the not-so-distant future...

2005-09-13T13:41:00.000-04:00

I wanted to post a quick update for those who have wondered about our plans for Ophelia. It would appear she has finally settled upon a course, as have we.

The Wilmington crew is not working tomorrow (of course), so by necessity, my services are not in demand for the duration of Ophelia's visit. Early in the morning, we will CSMO (to borrow an old artillery term - collect stuff/move out) and relocate to Ogden to wait out the storm at the church fellowship hall. This is merely precautionary, since we would be safe from a small storm like Ophelia at home, but the power is more reliable at the church, and I much prefer a brick building over merely a brick foundation!

An interesting feature year-round, but perhaps of interest to readers now is the Wrightsville Beach webcam. I'm considering adding it to the permanent list of links, and if that's of interest to any of you, I'll be happy to do so.

There is so much more on my mind, but I'll save it until after the current circumstances. As always, we value your prayers...

2005-09-10T18:20:00.000-04:00

This seems to have become a weekend activity… At any rate, I trust this finds each of you well.

The speed at which this year is progressing is remarkable. It occurred to me this week that we have but a scant three months until the Christmas season is upon us.
With that said, I would hardly be a music minister of note were I not thinking ahead to Easter. Since, however, I am apparently not among that populace, I have begun to think of Christmas!

Last year at about this time, I heard a song by David Phelps, "Love Goes On", which inspired a script by the same name. It was a four-act musical story of two brothers, one of whom was a successful secular musician, and the other a missionary upon whom tragedy had befallen.
"Love Goes On" was well received by our congregation and visitors, and although there were no measurable decisions, my prayers for successful sowing of the seed of the Word were, indeed answered.

This year, I have had a similar inspiration from the new Casting Crowns album, Lifesong. (By the way, if you want to check out this album, or any other I mention, for yourself, you can simply use the first link on the left side of this page) The song is titled "While You Were Sleeping". Mark Hall had originally intended to remake "O Little Town of Bethlehem", but realized as he studied the song the tragedy that most of the residents of Bethlehem had slept through the advent of their Messiah!
He wrote the song with that thought in mind, which then expands on Jerusalem’s similar response to the death of their King, and closes with a challenge to America to not make the same mistake with Yeshua’s return. It is a striking song, and I hope to do justice to the challenge with a script.
Thus far, I have written only the plot and scene summaries, and fear that my ideas may overreach our ministry’s resources. I cherish your prayers for wisdom and clarity of thought as I undertake this project.

It is a timely message, is it not? My heart breaks, as I look at our society and the American church in particular. We have so "majored on the minors"; we have painstakingly hammered out our congregational credos and doctrinal statements, carefully spelling out exclusions and boundaries. Self-righteously pleased with the holiness of our ministers and laity, we go through the motions of "church as usual", only dimly wondering why attendance is diminishing?

While more "churches" spring into existence, more and more lost are dying around us. It brings to mind a story that Ravi Zacharias relates in his book Deliver Us From Evil about a village that is bought in its entirety by a wealthy man. There is but one lone dissenter, who makes a point of interrupting every visitor that the wealthy man brings in to shout, "Don’t let him tell you that he owns ALL of this village – he doesn’t own MY house!"

Ravi makes the poignant application to the American church; while the enemy of our souls claims more and more of our cities, we vainly stand at the door of our churches and shout hallelujahs and praises to our personally distant G-d that the devil hasn’t claimed OUR property.

Or has he? Is it not tragically ironic that while we have excluded blatantly unregenerate individuals from our assemblies (the very ones that we are commanded to "compel to come IN"), we have haphazardly allowed in all manner of ungodly and heretical teachers and unscriptural "doctrines"?

From the mournful allowance of cessationism (the Holy Spirit worked differently for the apostles, although that completely insults and violates the nature of YHWH) to the drivel of prosperity-based teaching, the American church is inundated with spiritual pabulum and outright poison. Oh, there is no shortage of anything -- but the souls that are so precious to our Father.

As goes the church, so goes the nation, beloved. Lest we cluck our tongues at the reprobate nature of our society, let us first turn a critical eye within our own walls. Let us first cleanse the temple, then invite the Spirit in to revive our callused spirits; then and only then can we expect to be the "Bride without spot or wrinkle" for whom our Beloved Bridegroom will return.

That is one comfort that we can draw from the response to Katrina. I don’t know this for a fact, but I can surmise that among the Body of Christ working together to minister to the destitute and homeless victims of the Gulf region, there is an undeclared cease-fire to the bickering that is normally so prevalent throughout American church congregations nowadays. I imagine that not a single comment has been harbored about whether the other assemblies helping use drums, or hold Sunday night services, or allow women to speak, or if everyone dresses a certain way.

Are these issues relevant? Perhaps in the right setting, but they are usually hindrances to the REAL purpose of the Body…the Gospel. Let us focus on the important matters, and the other issues will pale in their significance.

Has your humble writer succumbed to the spirit of ecumenicalism? Not to the point of embracing heresy, but time is short, and I think it far past time that Christians work together, as long as they share common missions under the precious blood of our common LORD Yeshua HaMashiyach. Let us ever guard against the doctrines of devils (of which Peter spoke), but then let us not quibble over the preferences that divide us (as Paul commended us).

I hadn’t originally set out to write on this particular topic, but my mind has lately been upon the admonition of Christ in Luke 17:32 to "remember Lot’s wife" .
How strange for Him to challenge us to remember a woman whose name we don’t even know! His point, then, must have been to draw our attention to her attitude. She simply could not let go of that old life, even as it turned to ashes before her stone cold eyes.

I see an application to a church full of members who crave and can stomach only spiritual milk, and who want only a church setting that lends itself to comfort. No room for repentance, no sense for sanctification, no defense of dedication. No mention of the blood, no talk of the sacrifice of the cross, no time for doctrine.

To quote the apostle Paul, "brethren, these things ought not to be." How dare we presume to supposedly come to Christ merely for "fire insurance", yet willfully neglect the task of dying to ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him??
Have we not become the Pharisees, against whom Christ railed (Matthew 23) for their religion of routine, yet ignoring the weightier matters of judgment, mercy and faith?
Is it any wonder that the American church cannot reach the lost while we either exclude them from our religious club until they become outwardly righteous like us, OR so become like them that they see no need to come to Christ because they see no difference between them and us?

Brethren, let us forsake the things which are behind and reach forth unto those things which are before, pressing for the prize of the high calling of G-d which is in Christ Jesus. May His Spirit strengthen us to lay aside those weights and sins which so easily beset us and run with patience the race that is set before us.
Looking where? To Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who was tempted in every point as we are, yet was without sin. He is now on the right hand of His Father’s throne, but soon to return to rule and reign with His saints from the throne of David in His holy city of Jerusalem.

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus; may You still find faith upon the earth, as Your children still strive to seek and to save the ones in the uttermost parts of the earth who are out of the fold, away from the ninety and nine.

Have a blessed weekend, loved ones.

2005-09-05T14:09:00.000-04:00

Happy Labor Day! Our house is a flurry of liveliness – strange, isn’t it, how a day off from working can translate into additional activities?

Last night, we helped the Arrows make individual to-do lists for today, and with some minor prodding, they have embarked upon their collective missions.

For my part, I wrote my lesson outline and handout for this Wednesday night’s lesson, and installed a printer on Dee’s computer. In sheer exhaustion from my monumental effort, I collapsed and sought refuge in a bit of mental emptying in this missal.

Before the Arrows awoke, Dee and I enjoyed a few quiet moments, relishing some music and sipping coffee. Those moments are far between, so the opportunities are, without a doubt, carpe diem events.

Perhaps we should have foregone the coffee; I heard from a coworker last week that coffee could lead to criminal behavior. She received that tidbit from one of our field representatives, who heard it in one of their college classes. Red flag! Not only was it third-hand information, but its acknowledged source was a local college professor.

I am certain that we have a small number of professional, unbiased, knowledgeable professors in our local institutions of higher learning. I am merely unaware of any of them, save Doctor Mike Adams. With that in mind, I decided to research this particular nugget of "truth". As so wisely stated by one of my modern heroes of the faith, Chuck Missler, "If you torture the data long enough, it will confess to anything."

As it turns out, it does seem to have a minor basis in truth, but either our coworker heard incorrectly, or it was presented erroneously.

My initial refutation of the presentation in question held; without getting into too much (and potentially offensive) detail, when I mentally cross-reference our national prison population with the average clientele of Starbucks, it simply does not compute. I confess my ignorance in higher–level criminology (perhaps I should consult Dr. Adams), but from a novice perspective, I think we may be barking up the proverbial tree – except in a different forest altogether.

Not all on the work front is arduous. We have received our perennial visit from a lone Argiope Aurantia (if you ain’t as edumacated as me, that’s a writing spider, or a banana spider).

Normally, our visitors spin their webs in a less than ideal location, and consequently last little more than a few days, but this year’s pilgrim has made a more sagacious choice of real estate, and has now lingered for two weeks. She has grown quite rapidly, and I’ll try to get a photo or two to increase her posterity among the global audience of this site.

While I’m on the subject of posterity, I was saddened this weekend by the passing of a great conservative mind. Chief Justice William Rehnquist will be greatly missed by all of us who hold the Constitution dear (although it would seem that our company is dwindling among Western society).

I once read a definition of an American as "someone who will vociferously argue the Constitution, a document that he has never read". While that may evoke a wry chuckle, it is truer than many of us would like to admit.

Even with that in mind, I cannot fathom what our President is thinking by nominating John Roberts for Chief Justice. Bush is shrewder than his critics imagine, so I am positive that the nomination has political ramifications that are too nuanced for me to readily grasp. Nonetheless, I believe that this is one fight that should not have been shirked. My personal preference and expectation was Clarence Thomas, but alas, George wouldn’t return my phone calls. (Just kidding on that last part)

I have another update on my favorite "religion of peace". This is without a doubt taking the extremity (pardon the pun) of spiting one’s face.

I have now successfully avoided the mainstream of movement at our abode long enough. I should, I suppose, sally forth back into the fray.

Have a wonderful day, beloved – and I sincerely hope you didn’t put too much Labor into your Day.

2005-09-03T19:21:00.000-04:00

I must confess that I have been somewhat remiss in submitting any new entries to this diatribe. For those one or two who may actually be following along, I must proffer my deepest apologies.
I attempted to publish a new entry yesterday, but not having learned from my first attempt on this blog, I published it without first saving it as a draft, and lost it in its entirety in the process. I have thus learned to either save it first, or draft it offline and publish it later, as I am doing with this one.

Previous Issues Update:

Michael had his rifle returned! After five months, and several (increasingly harsh) calls to various sources, private property is back in private possession. My last call was to the detective in charge of property (?), and within two days, the original investigator was at our door, and she brought the rifle. I had been harboring threats and thoughts of fascism, but Dee brought me to a different line of thinking (as she is wont to do). Apparently, the detective in question has pressing personal issues that may have precluded her from timely return of the rifle. My flesh begrudges that there is no excuse, but my spirit reminds me that I (who shares Paul’s sentiment of being chief among sinners) have neither room nor allowance for judgment. In either circumstance, my flesh is satisfied with the rifle’s return, and all is well.

We decided to forego public education for the complete quiver of Arrows again this year. It seemed the right decision, and G-d willing, there is always next year to reconsider. It was a minor letdown for one of the eldest, but all of them have settled into the routine of early rising and the regimen of schoolwork the past two weeks. Curriculum choices are abundant, so we value your prayers for wisdom as we forge through the next 170 scheduled days.

I neglected to mention my ultimate choice for Wednesday night study. With the failure of the VA in St. Louis to approve school funding in time, I missed the deadline for fall registration at Moody. The upside to this is freedom to pursue a longer study!

Consequently, I chose Dawson McAllister’s "A Walk With Christ to the Cross", which is an incredible and up-close look at the final hours of Yeshua’s earthly ministry. It is a powerful study with evangelistic and revival-inspiring content, and I look forward to great returns.

Those who regularly peruse this page may have noticed the addition of links in the sidebar. They are sites I personally recommend, and it is far from comprehensive. My personal recommendation, of course, holds no real value, but they may prove of some interest!

And Continuing On…

We had a special service on Wednesday, held jointly with Beth Simcha. Normally, they hold services on Saturday and Tuesday, so this was the first opportunity for both congregations to fully mix and meet. How sweet it was for us to come together in unity and fellowship (Psalm 133)!

I regularly address our Sunday School class on the dangers of preterism. I have repeatedly warned them that should they ever find themselves in a church that teaches the replacement of Israel with the church, they should be aware that that church has problems with its ecclesiology, as well as its eschatology. What logically follows is that it should probably be questioned on its other doctrines, as well. I personally hold that particular view in contempt as heresy, as it violates what Paul so clearly lays out in chapters nine through eleven of his Roman epistle. I challenge the reader to read that particular trilogy and NOT be touched by it.

At any rate, the joint service had a special speaker, Mike Clayton of Joined to Hashem. Mike is a gifted speaker, and spoke powerfully on the significance and responsibility of Biblical covenant relationships. He also gave details of his recent trip to Israel, and I felt somewhat akin to the Emmaus disciples, as my heart burned within me. This is a rare, although not unprecedented, occurrence with me. The first time I felt it was when I first read the trilogy of which I just wrote.

Simply put, I hold a deep and unexplainable love for the Jewish people. The few drops of Jewish blood in my extremely mixed heritage may explain it, but I don’t fully accept that. I have a feeling that whatever YHWH may be moving us toward; it just may have something to do with Israel.

Coming home Wednesday night, I reminded the Arrows of the importance of touching the mezuzah as they went in the house. We have had one inside the front door for months now, but after finally obtaining another klaf, I mounted one at the back door last weekend.

I thought I was fully understood, until I individually asked them about it when we all were inside, and learned an important parental lesson (sometimes, you need to review instructions!). One of them responded to the question, "Did you remember to touch the mezuzah?" with, "I don’t know what that is, sir."
As it turned out, my assumption of their understanding was woefully overestimated, to say the least! Most of them thought they weren’t allowed to touch it!

We eliminated all confusion Thursday night; we sat down as a family and reviewed Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21, and discussed the significance of the mitzvah.

If you followed the recent Gaza "disengagement" debacle at all, you may be surprised to learn that the last settlers just left this week. Jeff Jacoby discusses it here.

Katrina has left an indelible impression upon our country. Whether you choose to believe those who proclaim this as G-d’s judgment, or those (such as RFK, Jr.) who moronically declare this to be the responsibility of conservative politics, it is a tragic disaster. I take comfort in the fact that churches were among the first responders; this is as it should be, and is a clear sign that the Body of Christ is not completely asleep.

Following Katrina, it was nice to see that Lee and Maria have apparently decided to remain more aloof. I mentioned to Dee that Lee is an appropriate name for something full of hot air but completely harmless. Her hope is that he doesn’t live up to his name, suddenly changing course and spontaneously moving a different direction….I feigned ignorance at the meaning of that observation!

Even without natural turbulence, we have had more than enough socio-economic buffeting to compensate. After an announcement from our beloved governor on Thursday that there would be no gasoline rationing in North Carolina, that’s precisely what was taking place in some parts of our state on Friday. There were even reports of some stations selling gas for as high as almost six dollars, and other stations allowing only ten gallons per vehicle.

Dee and I have been pleasantly surprised at our lack of concern. I am a self-acknowledged "dopey optimist", but she has always been more firmly grounded in reality, so I was at a loss to explain our relative calm in this latest storm. That is, until I realized the promise of Isaiah 26:3-4:

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he
trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is
everlasting strength:

(Or, for my Jewish brethren)

You will keep whoever's mind is steadfast in perfect shalom, because he trusts
in you.
Trust in the LORD forever; for in the LORD, the LORD, is an
everlasting Rock.

We may be troubled on every side, but yet not be forced to distress; we can be perplexed, but not be compelled to despair (II Cor. 4:8). Stayed upon Jehovah, our hearts can be fully blessed. Fellow saints, I leave you with this:

Phil. 4:6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Phil. 4:7 And the
shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your thoughts in Messiah Yeshua.
Phil. 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever
things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of
good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about
these things.

Amen and amen. He is faithful and true!

2005-08-27T22:10:00.000-04:00

I had the oddest flashback experience Saturday night. No, it wasn’t drug-induced; I imbibed enough alcohol in my unregenerate years to never have the need for other mind-altering substances.

I heard a snippet of a Phil Collins song on a television commercial, which took me on a Phil Collins quest. I knew we had his compilation album, Hits, somewhere, so I hunted it down before I went to retrieve the Arrows from their Saturday night service, and played it in the Kimchi-van for the trip.
As a reminder, Phil was big in the Eighties. I mean, he was Da Man, at least in the small circles in which I circulated. And the Eighties were my coming-of-age; I started the decade as a teeneager, and finished it in Central America.

I’m an auditory creature – it’s my learning style, and it’s my most prevalent memory trigger. That can be a boon and it can also be a poltergeist, if you will. By poltergeist, I mean a haunting presence with a malevolent ability to impact my surroundings.
Through the melodic time-machine of "In the Air Tonight" and "Take Me Home", I went back in time to my adolescence. I should have just left the commercial alone, but I’ll deal with that in a bit.
I had specific scenes and locales come into fresh recall, just as if they were events from last month! It was frightening on one hand, yet comforting and alluring on the other. I began to wonder why I had ever chosen to leave that lifestyle behind.

Why fight to live a life pleasing to Christ? Why struggle with the unseen? Why deny the pleasures of sin for a season?
Aha – there’s the catch; it’s that last part of Hebrews 11:25 that we always seem to overlook, and it’s always that part that eventually, tragically, comes to fulfillment.

There are times that I’m actually glad that I was saved from the life from which I was called. For one, it makes me a better parent (because there’s virtually nothing in which the Arrows can indulge that Dee and I haven’t experienced). For another, I can better minister to those still struggling with battles that Christ has allowed me to overcome. That’s all part of the "God meant it for good (Gen. 50:20)" testimony of my personal old man.

At the same time, had I kept the holy life for which He created me in the first place, I wouldn’t continually be forced to revisit previously vanquished battlefields. In that, I battle the only real incident of envy in my new life experience; I admire those (like some of my former classmates) at whom I used to sneer for their "sheltered lives".

Sin always has its price. Did that come through? Sin always has its price.

Oh, can I identify with Paul in Romans chapter seven!
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Yes, I could easily surrender to the siren song of a life of carnality. But, beloved, at what price? To live, as Thoreau worded it, a life of quiet desperation? To face each day forcing back the subconscious wonder of where my life is heading, vainly hoping that I will have some minor impact? To have to face each night drinking myself to sleep because I know the answer to that question?

No, He works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, the ones who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. I can embrace the fact that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes me free from the law of sin and death. God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. Why? So the righteousness of the law could be fulfilled in me, if I walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-4).

Saints, if you face struggles similar to those I described, there is hope. I can recognize the encounter as a warning flag. I can either drive on into the danger, or I can detour.
I’m taking the detour. It leads to higher ground, anyway.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

2005-08-25T10:24:00.000-04:00

I'm officially a grownup now -- I've been summoned for jury duty!
I don't have to appear until next month, so I don't yet know what it involves. Perhaps some input would help?
What little I know of jury duty was gleaned as a child from a Flintstones episode. For those not cultured enough to be familiar either with the artistry that was the show, or the episode in question, I'll elaborate. Fred ends up on a jury, and the foreman at that, for a murder trial. They find the defendant guilty, who later escapes from prison and vows his revenge on Fred.
Before the reader begins to worry that your humble doulos has lost touch with reality, please let me reassure you. Not living in the Stone Age, as did Fred, my home is more secure (and better armed) than was his, and our dog is more loyal than was his sabretooth tiger, not to mention that I'm smarter than Fred. And I'll tell him that in person if I ever meet him.
Seriously though, we are talking about Pender County, North Carolina. With few exceptions, the biggest crime in these here parts just may be when Gus gets drunk and hunts deer out of season with his 4X4. I'm not saying Pender County residents are yokels (cuz I are one), just not as sophisticated (read that uptight) as our neighbors to the south in New Hanover and Brunswick counties.
So, how bad can it be? I guess we'll discover that when the time comes.

Along the lines of pride in residency, I had a unique experience in a convenience store last week.
Has anyone else noticed that convenience stores have become the great melting pot of society? If time permits, spend more than five minutes in one during any given day; you'll see every strata of Western civilization, from the "dregs" who are there for their daily quota of Bud and pork rinds to the "hoity-toitys" who have been forced by necessity to rub elbows with the {sniff}commoners for the sake of a bit of petrol.
I was at the counter to pay for my daily Pepsi quota when the clerk called me "sir". Even though I am perpetually 17 years old (as evidenced by the opening of this post), I am accustomed to being called "sir" from time to time. Even so, something about the way she said it caught me off guard; perhaps it was the fact that it was actually sincere.
I couldn't help but react, so she remarked, "You must be one of those people that doesn't like to be called 'sir'." "No," I countered (pardon the expression!), "I'm just not used to it."
"Must be a Yankee", I heard from behind me in line. I turned to see some "good ole boy", who was all of twenty-something, who was playing with a lighter display at the counter. Now, I don't normally label people, particularly based upon scant first impressions, but allow me to paint a picture and draw your own conclusions. Cut-off Harley shirt, dirty blue jeans, a two-dollar bait-store-variety ballcap...getting an image? Two boys in the same family named "Junior", perhaps?
Never mind the fact that I've been here since he was in diapers, I think I've assimilated quite nicely, thank you.
The part of the encounter that incensed me was the implication that manners are somehow indigenous to the South exclusively. Yes, they have always seemed more prevalent here, but it may have shocked Mister "never been anywhere but southeastern North Carolina, but will persist in stubbornly holding preconceived notions, the veracity of which I have no earthly clue" that I have found manners to be a matter of personal choice and upbringing in every part of the world that I have frequented.

Yes, I realize the irony: I stereotyped someone who stereotyped me. Bad manners never constitutes the right to be indignant (life is too short).
However, it's a powerful reminder. We think, as a society, that we've progressed so far, and we are so wrong. As Malcolm Muggeridge said, "All news is old news happening to new people". Human nature is, was, will remain, exactly that -- human nature.

Is there a lesson?

Land of Linkin'

2005-08-23T11:29:00.000-04:00

It is past the time to pull myself from the doldrumic (yes, it's a word -- it is now, anyway; as in "having qualities of doldrums"!) musings into which I've sunk and post.

In the interest of serving the interests of the interesting (and to clear out some of the links that I've been saving), I decided to forget originality and share the genius and inspiration of others. I hope no one minds -- and if anyone does, feel free to use the comments feature, which is collecting virtual dust from lack of use.

To briefly revisit the object of my obsession of late, a clear summary of the Gaza/North Shomron (West Bank) debacle can be found here. For a pretty good insight, I liked this article. For a Biblical perspective, Hal Lindsey is an excellent source.

Hal Lindsey has a very talented partner by the name of John Rule, a gifted cartoonist whose work is timely and thought-provoking. I highly recommend some time perusing his gallery.

Another cartoonist whose work I love is Scott Stantis. I was introduced to his strip "Prickly City" through Ann Coulter. Last week, one of his characters launched a search for a true Republican. By no means do I consider myself a Re-flub-lican OR Demo-brat -- I'm most comfortable describing myself as a Christian Libertarian (yes, I know that's an ideological oxymoron, but are you gonna do?). At any rate, I heartily enjoyed the poignancy of the beginning of said search.

Since we're quickly becoming such a "tolerant" society, here's an great look at how tolerant the "peaceful" religion of Islam is, at least in Morocco. Play it again, Bouchaib?

And yet one more reason to be thankful we live in America.

Of course, freedom has its inherent challenges.

However, anyone who doesn't love this country can just go jump in a lake...or something.

Trust

2005-08-19T08:55:00.000-04:00

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Psalm 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

Psalm 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psalm 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

I awoke with this theme on my mind.
There are two different words translated as "trust" in the above passages. Where you see trust, it's from the Hebrew chacah, meaning "to seek refuge, flee for protection", and where you see trust, it's from the Hebrew batach, meaning
"1) to have confidence, be confident 2) to be bold, 3) to be secure".
Either way, it's a beautiful concept. As Peter explains it in Acts chapter 5 (an incredible story where he's challenged about proclaiming Christ), we ought to obey God rather than men. Why? Because (to combine the two Hebrew definitions) we can be confident and secure in seeking refuge and fleeing to YHWH for security!

I made a discovery recently in I Peter 5:7 (Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.). I've heard different extrapolations on what it means to "cast" our cares, but in the Greek, it's epirrhipto ("to throw upon, place upon"), which gains significance when one considers the fact that it's only found in one other place in the New Testament. That usage is in the context of the triumphal entry. To make it easier, here it is:

Luke 19:35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

Is that an incredible picture? We are to cast our cares upon Him the same way we would drape a saddle or blanket upon a horse! When (if) we do that, to Whom does the burden belong? Upon Whom is the weight?
Matthew 10:29-31 and Luke 12:6-7 remind us that our Father's eyes are even on the sparrows, so we know He watches us; nay, He knows us so well, He knows the very number of hairs on our heads (ie. He knows us better than we know ourselves).

How does this correlate to daily life? He knows the situation in Gaza, He knows the matters of the Supreme Court, He knows the intimate details of my (and your) hourly struggles and challenges. Our responsibility ends with lifting up our hands in prayer and adoration, and leaning upon Him in childlike faith and surrender.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.
(Psalm 118 and 136)

Have a blessed day, beloved saints!

2005-08-18T08:38:00.000-04:00

My apologies for not posting yesterday. With it being the official deadline for the Gaza withdrawal, I was in no mood to be light-hearted or jovial.
The entire situation is so tragic. I think what bothers me the most is the total lack of acknowledgement from the Bush administration that anything is even happening.
Now, I don't fault the president for taking vacation - he's certainly as entitled to some time off as the rest of us, if not more so. But there's just something about W. relaxing at home while Gaza settlers are being dragged from theirs that bothers me. It's largely American pressure that led to Sharon's suicidal policy of "disengagement" in the first place, and while it's being ruthlessly carried out, we hear nothing from our administration. It's just so, well, sleazy.
There are a number of sites for information on the conflict; I highly recommend this one. Definitely watch the videos, particularly "A Moment Before". To think of the knesset viewing this video, then voting for "disengagement" anyway, is heart-breaking.

On a lighter note, I mentioned the new Michael W. Smith album before. In all actuality, it's not his CD, just his songs.
Wilmington has a good radio station, but for some reason, I can't get radio reception in my office, so I listen to an excellent Internet station. I won the CD from the House, which was an early copy. I don't know if this has been caught yet, but two of the tracks are in reverse order from the listing on the CD cover. Is that not bizarre? Does that mean future releases of this album will be corrected, and I have a collector's item in my possession?

It reminded me of a similar situation in 1986, when I was stationed in 29 Palms. I had been a big fan of Boston for awhile (the band, although I loved the city too, when I visited), so I was eagerly awaiting the release of their new album, Third Stage. I walked to the exchange on the release day to buy the tape, anxiously walked back to my barracks and plugged it into my player.
Pushing play, I breathlessly awaited the melodic stylings to which I was accustomed. After a few long seconds, the player shut off. I thought, in my excitement, I must have put it in backwards. I flipped it over and pushed play again. Same result. I took the tape out and looked at carefully, discovering that the cassette had no tape!
I took it back to the exchange the next day, anticipating a skeptical response at best. After voicing my concern, the clerk wearily pointed to a display of the tapes and told me to pick out a new one. The only thing I could surmise was that the entire batch must have been defective.

I have an interesting exchange from a convenience store to relate, but I'll save it for tomorrow. Happy Friday Eve, and blessings to all.

2005-08-16T08:56:00.000-04:00

Goodbye, Irene!

I can decidedly go through another hurricane season with no visitations, but of course, it's still early in the season....

I used to have the vain idea that hurricanes didn't strike the Carolina coast while I was here (those who know me best can visualize my being egomaniacal with absolutely no stretch of mental capacity whatsoever), because the "big ones" always came when I was elsewhere, and always veered off while I was in the area.
Most notably among the former were Bertha and Fran, which came in 1996 (when I was in Korea). Among the latter was Hugo in 1989, which was heading for the Carolinas (when I was at Camp Lejeune), but battered Florida instead.
My egotistical delusions came crashing to their demise with Bonnie in 1998, where I ended up virtually babysitting scores of "grown" men and women in my barracks area at Lejeune, including pulling three knuckleheads away from the water's edge across the road from our building in 50-MPH winds, who "wanted to see how high the water had gotten".
It has always baffled me that Marines are the deadliest enemy to face for those who would threaten America, but the greatest enemy of Marines is usually themselves! That's not meant as an insult, merely part of the mystery of those beautifully unique creatures known as Leathernecks.

Dee left the house early this morning while I was getting ready for work to retrieve the three oldest of the Arrows (a new nickname for the kids, drawn from Psalm 127:5) from a lock-in. There's a church in Rocky Point that holds Saturday night youth services, where they have started attending (and the oldest two have joined the music team). At any rate, they had a lock-in last night, and came in bleary-eyed and wired.
For those unfamiliar with the term "lock-in", here's a word-association: lock-in is to teenager as blood is to shark. It's a fairly simple process of taking a group of teenagers overnight into a facility, plying them with movies, music and junk food, then releasing them (usually completely sleep-deprived) into the wild in the morning. I've always thought of adult youth workers who hold lock-ins as either really dedicated to their ministry, or clinically insane.

So last night, Dee and I just had the "twins". We watched "The Sound of Music" on DVD together. We got to the intermission, where the DVD simply has "Entr'acte" on the screen, while playing music and showing scenery from Europe. I looked at the word and said, "That must mean 'intermission'." Dee responded (in the deepest possible drawl), "Geeoh git gewbers" (Go get goobers, for the uninitiated). I about fell out of my chair laughing! Have I mentioned that she's a real gem??

I had a story about the new Michael W. Smith album, but I'd better end this for now. Blessings to all.

2005-08-15T10:08:00.000-04:00

Ever have one of those weekends where you know everything in store, and are prepared for all of it in advance?

This was NOT one of them in the Doulos realm.

Saturday was meticulously planned, with typical military precision. Dee got to the church with the kids, where they proceeded to assist as needed. However, the clock in the church (due to the height at which it's placed) is still on Daylight Savings Time, so they ended up staying an hour later than planned.
Not that I would have noticed, because I was at home working on the contents of Saturday's post (which was also unplanned - it has been bumping around the recesses of my partially-sanctified mind for some time now, and suddenly burst forth in cohesive thought!).
Late Saturday night, Dee did surprise me with a statement: "Today, I got a look at true worship". Intrigued, I responded in true deep, theological fashion, "Really? Where? How?" She said, "The sight of Mrs. X (one of our church's seasoned saints), on her hands and knees, scrubbing baseboards in the fellowship hall." She's a real gem (Mrs. X is too, but I mean Dee)!

Sunday, the big day, we got to the church a little before nine, as is our custom. I unlocked the building, and as I stepped into the hall to turn off the alarm, I noticed that the carpet had a shine to it. My first thought was, "That's odd - did someone put down Plexiglas?" Upon looking closer, I realized it was wet. Great, the carpet's been shampooed, and didn't dry overnight.
Well, the alarm is still beeping, and I'd best hurry to turn it off before the system notifies the police of an intruder. I'll just step gingerly as close to the wall as possible. When my foot hit the carpet and it sloshed, that's when I became aware of a sound, steadily making its presence known just beneath the insistent sound of the alarm system. That sounds like a shower running - and it seems to be coming from the ladies bathroom. Wait - there isn't a shower in the ladies room!
Turning off the alarm while standing in water (and noticing a fairly even layer of water covering the entire length of the hallway), I proceeded to step into the ladies room, where water
was standing deep enough to splash over the tops of my shoes with every step. Apparently, overnight, one of the commodes had developed a leak in the feeder pipe, and was spewing water at a rate roughly equal to a fire hydrant (okay, perhaps not, but it sure seemed that way as I was struggling to turn off the valve).
Splashing back into the hallway to survey the damage, I realized that water had covered the hallway, the nursery, the toddler classroom, the junior high classroom, the music office, and both bathrooms. It had also squirmed its way into the back quarter of the sanctuary. All of this on the church's biggest day, with all of our invited local heroes and distinguished guests due to begin arriving within an hour!
With a few phone calls, and as members began arriving with shop-vacs, the ill effects were minimized. With the arrival of one of the local fire departments, who brought in devices similar to shop-vacs, but looking like jet-packs, the damage was nullified to the point that the Fourth Annual Heroes Day started only about ten minutes late.
Our members are quite a group of "roll-up-your-sleeves, git-er-done" saints. The organizer, Gwen, kept things smooth, and it's my guess that this will be a day not soon forgotten!!
I will say that Wilmington's mayor is a class act. As a general rule, I don't consider politicians high on my "I think he's peachy-swell" list, but Mr. Broadhurst is just as down-to- earth and "real folks" as you'd ever hope to have as a next-door neighbor, let alone running a city.

Along the lines of government, I found this interesting. It just may be the only time I'll ever applaud our state's current governor for anything.

And speaking of disagreeing with disastrous governmental decisions, my heart is breaking over the Gaza situation. It makes me want to hop a flight to Israel and join in with the Gush Katif crowd, particularly if it progresses this far!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, beloved. Shalom.

Two Kinds of Faith?

2005-08-13T21:53:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking about the fact that Christians can accept Christ through faith, but then struggle with the faith that accompanies a victorious Christian life. Why is that? Why can we trust God for our eternal destiny, but not with our daily existence?

Is it that saving faith is the least amount of faith we'll ever need? I thought that at first, but let's look at that concept.

To be saved by faith in Christ, I have to accept the existence of someone Whom I've never met. That's not difficult; I accept the existence of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, etc. To go further back in history, I certainly accept the existence of Mohammed, Buddha, and Confucius. So in that aspect alone, saving faith is not difficult.
However, I also must accept the fact that this historical Person had always existed as part of the Godhead, willingly took human form, performed miracles that defy all contemporary (and modern) abilities, died a sinless death, and rose from the dead, and is still alive, and coming back to earth! That is a mind-boggling collection of facts to accept!

Contrast that with trusting God to provide my daily needs when I have a track record with Him, and His provision in similar situations in the past. Which is the greater faith??
With that in mind, I went to the Scriptures to reconcile the two types of faith. A pattern emerges: sanctifying faith is up to us, but saving faith is from God. If true, then not only do we have full assurance of salvation, but it should alter the way we pray for the salvation of those in our lives who are without Christ!

Introduction

Before I begin, please consider:

Jam 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

If salvation is a gift (Rom. 6:23), then we can establish that we have nothing to do with it.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Even Jesus Christ Himself said:
Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

With that in mind, let me begin.

One Definition, Two Distinctions

The word "faith" is found 245 times in 299 verses of the New Testament (KJV). Part of the difficulty lies in the fact that, with six exceptions, they are all translated from the same Greek word, pistis ("persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction [of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher], especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious [Gospel] truth itself"). So, even in the definition, we see a hint at two distinctions.

Sanctifying Faith

Sanctifying faith involves our daily walk and what should be our goal: cooperating with the Holy Spirit and His work of transforming us into the image of Christ (Rom. 12:1-2). Aside from Galatians 3 and James 2, which are entire chapters on the subject, consider the following:

Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

1Th 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

1Th 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
1Th 3:6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
1Th 3:7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
1Th 3:8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
1Th 3:9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
1Th 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Phm 1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
Phm 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Rev 2:19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

All the above passages seem to speak of a faith that is our possession and struggle, one that is tenuous at best, that can be strengthened or even lost. This certainly doesn't sound like one that is firm or sure, nor one that speaks of eternal assurance.

Phi 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Saving Faith

These seem to demonstrate a seperate faith, that of Christ, as opposed to that in Christ. The "of" in Philippians 3:9 is translated from ek, or ex ("Origin", or "out of"). I see a faith prior to sanctifying faith, that of saving faith. This seems to be borne up by the following:

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Gal 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Gal 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Gal 2:20 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.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(I've always heard this applied to salvation being a gift of God, but look carefully - what is the gift of God? Grace? Or faith?)

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
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Rev 2:13 (Christ says) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
(Faith of Whom? Whose faith?)

Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
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Tit 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
(How can we be in one, common faith? For seperate individuals at seperate stages of sanctification, this would be impossible!)

1Ti 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
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1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(The word in is from "en", which carries a connotation of a fixed position. How can a faith that is a struggle be fixed?)

1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
(Because greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world, and it's His faith!)

Here's an attention-getting verse:
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
That verse alone would seem to indicate that faith is not an indidual's prerogative or whim.

(What does this speak to the Scriptural basis of Calvinism? That's another topic though, isn't it?)
In summary, it would seem that our faith as individuals is too puny and unstable to sustain the kind of faith needed for salvation and quickening of our spirits that takes place at salvation. It would seem that God chooses to impute the faith of Christ upon willing (or predestined?) indivduals.

Summary

This means that (thankfully), faith unto salvation is not of us, else we lose it. It also means that I've been praying for the salvation of lost loved ones less effectually than I could. I need to be petitioning Abba Father, not for their choice alone, but for Christ's faith to be imparted unto them.

2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2Th 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

That is my thesis. What are your thoughts???

2005-08-12T10:04:00.000-04:00

Okay, the picture post yesterday was just experimentation!

Well, Friday has arrived.

I keep waiting for the sense of jubilation that usually accompanies Fridays, but alas, it has yet to arrive. It may have something to do with the weekend ahead - the events calendar is overbooked, to say the least!

Today, Michael and Ashley are going into one of the area subdivisions with an outreach team from Wilmington Bible Chapel, where they attended Awana. It's an area not far from where a Wilmington Police Sergeant was shot recently, so Dee was understandably concerned. It's definitely a new experience!

Tomorrow is a preparation day for Liberty's annual Heroes Day. Our family had little involvement in planning it this year, which was nice, because it's shaping up to be the best one yet (hmm, is there a connection?), but the kids are involved in helping set up for it, and then serving during the lunch afterward. Ashley is also singing during the service.
After the lunch, we'll leave early to hold church service at White Oak (a new apartment complex similar to, and managed by the owners of, Gresham Place).

Sometime tomorrow, I'll be preparing the sermon for White Oak, plus coming up with a new study for Wednesday nights. After Pastor finished his study I mentioned yesterday, he asked me if I wanted to go back to teaching on Wednesdays -- what was I going to say? May as well ask Fred Astaire if he wants to dance or Michael Jackson if he feels like babysitting!
The challenge is a topic. I had thought of a study on the attributes of God (no one ever accused me of being an underachiever - well, okay they have, but why ruin a chance to be flippant?); I started research, and realized I was perhaps, uh, losing sight of the fact that Wednesday night Bible study is supposed to be brief? My latest leaning is a study on the book of Habakkuk; short, relevant, and a chance of completing the study sometime before I retire.
Not that I would mind a long stretch of teaching on Wednesday, it's just that Moody Bible Institute's fall semester starts August 23rd, and as long as the V.A. sorts through my GI Bill application in time, I'll be plenty occupied.

Speaking of being occupied, we have been trying for quite awhile now to resolve the situation involving Michael's paintball gun. Brief summary: in February, the kids were playing with their paintball guns, our neighbors found a paint dab on their truck windshield near a small crack, filed charges (in April) on Michael for damage to property, we settled (to avoid further problems, even though we knew we could have won), and have now been waiting for the return of Michael's paintball gun, which was confiscated for testing.
Never mind the fact that the investigating detective (who makes it very apparent that she is a Christian) sat in our living room and bold-faced lied to Dee that no charges would be filed (it was ultimately up to her how far the whole debacle progressed). Never mind the fact that we ended up paying $280.00 for a broken windshield that wasn't broken and for which we had no legal responsibility. Never mind the fact that they took Michael's rifle to test it (proving in the process that it was incapable of causing the alleged damage). But we want it back!
Dee has already called the court liaison, who assured her that he would contact the detective (and to call him back if we didn't hear from her). We waited over two weeks, then I called him yesterday. he told me to call the Sheriff's Department. I did -- they told me I would have to talk to the detective, but she was in a class. I left a message on her voicemail, with both our home number AND my work number. No contact. My next step is to call her today repeatedly until I get a response. Failing that, I may just email the County Sheriff himself.
This is just ludicrous. I told Dee that if a citizen had kept "government property" (I put that in quotes because in my philosophy, government, as an entity and not an individual, is logically, morally, and physically incapable of property ownership, but that's a different and long diatribe) in this manner, they'd be locked up.
To put it more simply, imagine checking a book out of your local library, then keeping it for four months. Sure, try that sometime, and see if you don't get hit with massive fines, and court summons!

Anyway, I'll keep everything updated as events unfold. We value your prayers!

2005-08-11T10:58:00.000-04:00

Hmm...!

Friday Eve!

2005-08-11T09:32:00.000-04:00

It's Friday Eve! Isn't that a nicer way to think of Thursday?

Thursday is classically my slow day, metabolically. From birth (as I understand, because my memory obviously isn't that far-reaching), I have not been one to relish staying still long enough to sleep. The daily end result is falling into a deep sleep within scant minutes after laying down, usually around 11:30 PM. The weekly end result is that by Thursday, I'm running as close to slow-motion as I ever get.

Not to discount Thursday as a "day the Lord has made", mind you. I just struggle with the "rejoice and be glad in it" part the most at this time each week.

Last night, Pastor Tilly finished the study he's been doing on Wednesday nights on "Living the Life God Rewards" . He laid down a challenge that should have been so apparent, but I've overlooked somehow: we should be living for the "Well done, good and faithful servant" commendation from Christ. If we face every situation and every decision of every day, with that in mind, it will revolutionize our lives. It's a remarkable concept that bears incorporating into my daily life.

Speaking of which, we received word yesterday that the management of Gresham Place, where we hold Sunday afternoon church services every other week, received two complaints about some fliers we distributed last week. They were pretty basic, a PowerPoint slide with the questions, "Do religious people go to Heaven? Which religion is the right one? How religious do I have to be?", with an invitation to join us (my message was titled "Religious But Lost", about the rich young ruler in Luke 18). The flier contained contact information for the church, and that was about it. Mama (Dee's mother) posted a copy on the recreation room door, and a copy to each resident's door.
It seems that two of the Roman Catholic residents complained to the management, claiming that they were offended. We've had a couple of residents who were formerly Roman Catholic accept Christ during our ministry there, and immediately thereafter, two women from a local RC church started giving communion there, and telling people that they would go to Hell if they came to our services! We haven't heard much from them since, but apparently, the influence lingers. My first reaction was indignation, but quickly faded to rejoicing; we wouldn't encounter resistance if we weren't making inroads into the enemy's territory!
Will we stop distributing fliers? Yes, out of respect for the management there, who are giving us the courtesy of ministering there (I'm still amazed that the "offended" residents didn't contact us directly). Will this otherwise affect our ministry there? Yes - it's encouraged me that we're doing the right thing!! Hallelujah!

Along the lines of doing the right thing, Dee and I are considering putting at least Michael, and possibly Ashley into a local government school this year. Ideally, it will give them easier transition into college/military service, but it will also give them a broader exposure to what they are facing.
Even two months ago, I wouldn't have entertained the notion of taking them out of home school, but they are both getting such a heart for the lost, that it's difficult to deny them the opportunity to reach out to circles of influence they wouldn't otherwise have. Please pray with us for wisdom as we consider this (Colossians 1:9-14); we need to make a decision fairly quickly.

One other item: we're watching Irene; we'll keep you posted!

God bless, and we'll "talk" soon!

Here We Go!

2005-08-10T13:03:00.000-04:00

For about two years, I've struggled with the urge to join in on the blogging trend. I say struggled, because part of me has successfully resisted the impulse. I haven't quite put my finger on the exact reason (although I must confess that I haven't invested much time in the endeavor!).

So why now? That's a topic for another post; actually, it was to be my first post, but I irretrievably lost it before I posted it. There's fifteen minutes I'll never have back. {Sigh} Much to learn....

Will this blog be worth the time anyone takes with it? That, dear readers, is the proverbial 64,000-dollar question! My prayer is that it will, somehow fulfill that seemingly insurmountable goal!