phooey

three wishes

2010-05-29T16:04:00.002-06:00

Well, it is summer. I haven't blogged since March. "Blogged" is a verb. The lack of blogs is not for lack of material, but rather for busyness of schedule and prioritizing on my part.

So much stuff has happened...I think I will skip the recap.

I was at graduation where the graduating class was challenged to "Try to Fail." Yeah, you read that right. So, while I still listened and was happy when I realized this would not be a long speech, I started to think about some other things. The speaker mentioned greatness, and trying things, and other stuff, and something he said triggered a line of thought for me.

It was something along the path of what three things would I wish for from this next year. Surprisingly, it did not take me long to come up with them.

I want to be closer to the Lord than I ever have been. I was asked once if I really wanted something or if I was just trying because someone else wanted me to. My response was that I want to want to. I want to desire God more than I have. I want to say with the Psalmist that my soul pants after God. We sing it and say it, but I want it to be the true inward desire and longing of my heart to know Christ. And so, as this school year comes to a close, and summer break is upon me, I hope to grow closer to the Lord.

Secondly, and just as quick to my mind was that I want to grow closer to my wife than I have ever been. As with the previous, these seem like things that are just expected to happen as time progresses, but it doesn't work that way. It is not a passive thing that makes a relationship just grow stronger. It takes work and effort, and this is what I want. I realize more and more that relationships are what matter. I have stuff, and I am grateful for it. I have lots I can go do, and again, I'm thankful for it. But really, that doesn't matter so much as relationships. And, so, the most important one is that with my wife.

She is amazing. There really aren't enough words to describe how great she is, or how much I need her. She helps me in so many ways. She is a blessing, and truly a help that is meet for me. She keeps me going, helps me see when I'm wrong, and teaches me traits that I do not have. I love her dearly, and I want to love her more.

My last goal/wish as it were is to be wiser than I have ever been. I don't know how wisdom works really. It doesn't seem measurable necessarily. I don't know if it runs out. If I have wisdom now, can a wise man become a fool? Can a fool become wise and then go back to being a fool? Did God give Solomon his wisdom all at once or did he give him wisdom in each situation that it was needed? It seems to me from recalling passages that Solomon was not given some wisdom every time. He was wise. People came from all over to see his wisdom. This one, is probably the easiest considering the first one. If I am getting closer to the Lord than I am spending time in prayer and if I am spending time in prayer, then I can pray for lots of wisdom.

A passage I like a lot, and have for a few years now is James 1. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Wisdom is ours to have. I think some people envy Solomon thinking he got wisdom just because he asked for it. But we have the same privilege and opportunity. Ask in faith and we get wisdom. It is great!

Being a dad is great. Arielle is fantastic, and she is well behaved. People say things like "Just wait till she turns 2" or "Well, yeah, boys are worse; wait till you have a boy." Bleah! I understand that some babies aren't as well behaved, BUT the difference is not just due to boys and girls. And at the age of two, Arielle will still be well behaved. (I say that and have yet to see it proved; at the same time, if I am right people will say stuff like there is just something different or we are just "lucky") Anyway, she is adorable, and we are blessed to have her.

I finished my masters work, and now have an MA in Biblical Studies. Apparently a Masters in anything is supposed to be a huge resume boost. At the moment I don't need to worry about that though. I am glad to have that out of the way. It feels great to have it finished. I want another one. I want two more, or three. But I don't have the time or the money. It is a commitment. Part of me doesn't understand how big a deal this is. It wasn't a big deal at the time. I moved from high school to college to my masters work and it wasn't any different. It wasn't harder or more exerting. Now I have it, and people are seeing a big deal in it. Then I think about trying another one and I realize more of the big deal. I don't see how. Some people at MBBC with me were there in their 8th year or so. Taking a tiny bit at a time to eventually get to their MA. Look at others who spent their entire life thus far (into their 30s) getting a ThM. Because of the type of MA in the field of Bible, I would need another Masters before I could even pursue a PhD. And I have considered another Masters. If I moved somewhere and worked hard, I could (feasibly) do it in two years. The PhD would be another 3-4 after that. Since it is not this year, I already have my contract, that would mean that Arielle would be 7 before her dad was done with school...really, that doesn't sound terribly bad. That would be very hard on my wife though. I don't know how I am supposed to work and do school either. No, I do understand. I've heard stories and others have done it. It is possible. Is it something I need though? Is it something God wants me to do? Is it something I just want?

Well, that is something I will be praying about. I can probably get a loan or lots of loans, and make it through. This year has, for many reasons, caused me to consider what work I want to do. What do I enjoy? Where can I use my talents? How can I find a job that is right for me? These things are still questions that I ask. I don't know what I want to do. I do know, which I didn't even after most of this year, that I enjoy teaching. What it is exactly that I enjoy, I am unsure about. Is it the instruction? Is it the kids that I have come to care about? Is it the math, or the teaching of life lessons when they come and ask personal questions about their future? I don't know. Maybe some of all of it...

I like the Bible, but as someone is very fond of pointing out to me, all Christians should like the Bible. I like to talk Bible stories and doctrine, but shouldn't all Christians? I like to teach Bible, but would it be worse for me to have to teach Bible in some place where I had weird and odd restrictions than to teach something like I am now? What is my dream job?

I might have an opportunity to be teaching Bible Doctrines at the Institute at the church. It just started this year, but Pastor would eventually like to get it accredited. That would be great. It would be even more great if I can actually teach this fall. It isn't settled yet. I was asked if I would teach through the summer, but had to decline due to going to MI.

We will be leaving Sat. I am excited. I am unsure how I will be spending my time out there. I would like to go canoeing. I think that would be cool. But, grandma would have to take care of a lot of kids for that to happen.

I spend most my free time here playing games, and reading. I finished Elantris back a little bit ago. I think it was Brandon Sanderson's first. I read his Warbreaker last June. My wife actually finished it before me. I am so proud of her for reading a fantasy novel. Then we bought the Mistborn series. I finished the first one a few days ago. So I have two more to read this summer, but I'm not as hooked at this point. They weren't meant as a trilogy. I think he wrote the first one as a stand alone novel. It was easy to pick up the story, but now I have yet to determine what the main point of this book is. Maybe in a few more chapters?

The official post from Pat Rothfuss is that the book will be done in Sept, and therefore on the shelf in Mar. I remember last year, 2009 that I blogged and spoke of my disappointment because I expected it on Jenn's birthday of 2009. Oh well, I'm enjoying Brandon Sanderson for now.

I should probably work on my book some more. I have more theory I need to work on. It has been a while since I wrote anything related to my book, and the only thing I wrote at all was the last short story I posted here. That would probably be a good use of my time.

Oh, I got an A in my last class. My GPA was 3.7; I'm satisfied with that.

I want to start something else. It is funny; school has been out for only a couple days and I am done with my MA, and I suddenly feel like I have nothing to do. Of course, there is always more to do. I should spend more time blogging, and perhaps trying to get something published. Maybe writing up something expertly. Perhaps I should try to use Calvin's library while I am out there...it will never happen.

Maybe I should get involved in some cause. Like the RE:Fundamentalism site that just went up. I know little about it, just know that its there.

Oh, and I think its Interesting that Central Seminary, and Faith are merging parts of their schools together. I find it very...intriguing. I don't know that I could be on staff at any Bible college. I'm not the Bible college type of guy. I don't work well with all the "pointless" rules.

Anyway, I need to go play Blokus. I have never played and really want to win, so goodnight. Hopefully I will blog later.

Oh, I heard Munchkins was a good game, and also Settlers of Katan. I think we need to get this game for MI. I might buy it...bye.

stuff learned

2010-03-11T19:35:00.002-06:00

Every now and then God opens our eyes or shows us something we haven't seen before. It is an amazing thing that happens far too rarely (for me). It changes the way we think and the way we act, at least for a while. I remember only a few times where I was strongly impacted in that way. I assume that part of it was that I was closer to God at that time than I was at others, though that isn't fact, just conjecture. One particular time, it changed my view of things, it changed my actions. It was great. And even though it was something I knew in my head before, and still do now, the impact it had has dwindled. Maybe that is the norm; it is for me. It is daily work and reminding myself of these truths so that I do them, rather than them constantly so impressing me that I can't help but do otherwise. The latter is easier, and more delightful; but right is right no matter what.

Anyway, I have learned to listen to others when they have those moments. When someone tells me something that has hit them, I try to hold onto it for as long as I can. It isn't often that happens. There really are few people that really talk to me about their devotions, or what God has shown them. Maybe we just find talking about that stuff too preachy. Maybe we aren't consistent enough to talk about it. Maybe we didn't read out Bibles that day.

Note: Grandma is always reading something. And it is an encouragement and prodding for me to make sure I'm reading something. When we see each other, there isn't really talk about the weather and that nonsense. Grandma expects conversation; and I do to. I think I should be able to hold a conversation on these things. We need to have enough to talk about. We need to have stimuli in our lives that force us to think outside our norm. We need articles, or books, or papers, or others that drive us to investigate our own thoughts, or their thoughts. We can't allow ourselves to be content in what we are thinking or have thought. Think new thoughts. (And on that note, stop watching TV. I have been watching some shows, but I am getting more and more frustrated with it again. My time is precious to me. I don't see my wife and daughter enough anyway, and TV is the most logical thing to cut. It does nothing for me. It has/can/does waste hours of my time. I recall talking to others who are so busy they don't really watch TV. Good for them. I am getting there. I'm not condemning it all, just saying that I think it is on too much in the average "Christian" household.) Let me repeat, think new thoughts for you. (Not new as in unorthodox, but do an indepth study on something you never have. When you are reading and you come to that passage you don't really get, instead of saying "Oh, well, I don't have to preach on it so its ok." Remind yourself you might need to explain it fully and correctly to your child some day. Maybe that will help; and yeah, you could fake it to your kid...but is that something you want be doing?

Back on track. I'll wait while you jump back above the "Note" and read the short paragraph again. . .I wish others talked more about their devotions, but then I realize I don't even do it much. I can't ask others to do something I can't even get myself. But, I think it is an integral part of exhortation, and encouragement. Let's talk about the things of God, when we rise up, when we go about our day, when we eat, when we lie down. (I am still trying to figure out an aesthetically appropriate way to hang a half dozen verses on our walls. We don't have frames, and I'm not about to spend a lot to do it...but for some reason I think my wife would be opposed to taping sheets of paper on the walls. ;))

Part of the reason I blog is to be able to record those things that hit me, so that I can recall them again and again. Part of the reason is that I hope they can help others. I am encouraged when I hear others talking/posting about it. I want to help if I can. If not, meh. I'm not preaching. But when I see that God has given something to someone I want it. And I want to share when I get it.

Lately, I've been considering something. This isn't one of those great spiritual truths; it is something quite obvious actually, but I figured I would share anyway.

Time. Everything takes time. It takes time to lose weight. It takes time to build muscle. It takes time to build a relationship. It takes time to build trust. It takes time to get a good grade. It takes time. Things take time. The more important a matter is, the more time it seems to take to get to the point you would like it to be at. I was contemplating this and begrudging the fact when someone pointed out to be that greater effort reduces the time. And this too I believe is true.

If I cut more calories our of my diet (in a smart way) than I will lose fat faster. If I ensure I work the muscle to the fullest, concentrating on it and spending twice as much time doing varied exercises it will accomplish more faster than if I did one exercise half-heartedly. If I work hard on a relationship, than it will grow stronger faster than if I spend the minimum amount of time on it.

The conviction part, is that I want a better, deeper relationship with God, and I look at the time I spend and its pitiful. I find time to do a lot of things, with less effort than doing the best I can at a few things. Though, some of those are necessary, some aren't. And it would probably be best if I could concentrate more fully on the stuff I need to.

Well, short blog tonight, but I don't usually blog on Thursdays anyway. Good night, good weekend, and happy spring break!

generosity, family, and my selfishness

2010-03-07T14:47:00.003-06:00

P. S. I wrote a short story which I posted in the previous blog if you are just arriving after a short time. That "P" stands for Pre, not Post this time.

My parents have always been generous. Mom would be giving away bread and brownies and we would be complaining about it. But we gave things away. My parents didn't advertise when they were doing it. It would be conversations I overheard about someone else they gave money too, etc.

When I started my first job, delivering papers, I think I was generous. At the time I thought I was generous too. I would buy myself and siblings slushies from the Dairy Delight after my route was over. Not every day, but I do recall buying them on multiple occasions. I would buy pizzas for the house.

Then, I started getting selfish. I know part of it started from my disgust with indecision and people lying about stuff. For example, "Which piece do you want?" "I don't care." Really? We all want that piece right there which is the biggest one, and no one wants the corner piece which is half the size of the other ones. Anyway, I started taking the biggest piece every time. People were hesitant about going first, so I went first. I was tired of wasting time, and tired of pretending. Really, I was being selfish. My brother knew it. He kept pointing it out and it upset him. I'm sorry Mike, you were right.

SWCCG was great, but after I realized there were not just 4 of us that owned cards, my junk cards obtained value. I would feign connection and conflict about trading something that was really completely worthless to me because someone else did see value in it. I quote the verse "It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth." That was me. I knew that was me. I was proud of it. I would pretend and pretend and go away bragging. I was only beginning to see value in my worthless stuff.

WoW started and every piece of junk became useful. Anything dumb and worthless could be sold to the right person for profit. I began to correlate to real life. The principle of the money I made at the auction with stupid stuff should translate to real life. People buy stupid stuff. The problem with suddenly seeing value, was that coupled with my selfishness, I didn't want to give anything away. I had a hard time giving things away in WoW where it didn't matter, let alone in real life where it did. There was no reason for me to give anything away. I could sell it on ebay. I could barter it. Then, I distinctly remember someone giving me a video card. Just like that. Video cards are expensive. A new one, could be hundreds of dollars; a older used one, sure, maybe he could have only made $20, but that was $20.

He had a new one, and so he gave me his old one. The whole incident wasn't really new. I had grown up wearing clothes from many different cousins and uncles. But this one shocked me. Obviously; I remember it still. He just gave it to me.

I had to start telling myself to be generous. I have also had to remind myself that generosity is not just a matter of giving money away to people. It can be found in other ways.

We were extremely blessed at our wedding. People that I didn't give a single thing to gave large amounts to us. Part of that of course is that I was still under my parents house and they gave, but now I'm growing up.

Now I have a house of my own; completely furnished by people who gave to us. They gave us everything we have. Just recently, are there things in our living room that were not given us: my PC-- which I've had for years, and our new piano. We have been so abundantly blessed. But even as I experienced this, I was not thinking this was normal. People are more generous when called together and when the need is obvious and presented. (Yes, I know I'm cynical.) But that isn't it at all. And I am ashamed that I thought that way about my family's generosity. They are just generous.

See, part of my cynicism comes from the fact that I know the heart is deceitful and wicked. I know that people are selfish beings. These are facts, and so me seeing a generous act or person contradicts the facts and I see an exception, not a child of God. Again, shame on me.

We are blessed so far above what we could ever think. I was prepared to live with no TV. I was prepared to sleep on an air mattress for a year (or longer). I was prepared for all this stuff. God blessed through generous people.

Recently, because of our tax refund we were able to get a piano. I found a power cord for our laptop that stopped working within a couple months of being down here. It was only $10, so now we have our laptop back. We were given a giant TV. GIANT. Also, due to our tax refund, and some ebay bidding, there is a PS3 arriving Tuesday.

On top of all that, God worked so that we haven't paid a single bill from the hospital. That was our biggest worry. We were paying the doctor's visits fine. We really didn't/don't have $8000, or anything like it.

Its still hard for me to accept generosity from others sometimes. "Thank you" seems so inadequate, and yet there is nothing else I can really do.

In conclusion, God is good! Praise the Lord for his goodness!! And thank you to all my family and friends who have been generous and who have taught me how to be generous in return.

Part 2. Title: Sin and America

I was having a conversation on the way home from church, and we were discussing socialism, and capitalism, and economies and such. It was not in great detail, just some stuff. Then, we were discussing where we might feel comfortable moving. But it came up about all the sin in some other places in the world. As we discussed, we talked about the sin in America as well. But, as we discussed I continued to think about it. Yes, America is horrible. America is going down the wrong path. We are fighting tooth and nail to keep sin out and away. To keep it in the dark and private, rather than out in the open and light. I don't know about other countries on certain issues, or on what they fight against; I do know that America is not the worst of it. Other countries are worse.

I used to mock the liberals for saying dumb stuff like "I'm moving if . . ." Really, forget the economic system, or military might, but from a clearly moral standpoint, isn't America still near the top? Maybe not right on top, but that's hard to say.

And then a continuing solemn thought, if America is near the top and we are this bad, certainly this world does not have long to go. We can find quotes of people describing the wickedness of America in the 1930s and how it was like Noah's day. It has worsened. If this is America. . .why do we cling to this world like the lost?

Why do we want to stay? Why do we find enjoyment in this filth ridden world? Why are we close enough to the world to try to find joy in it? We get so close that we forget joy only comes from God. We look for it in our friends and in our things and in our games and our recreation. BAH! Shame on us.

Our joy comes from God. "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice."

We should feel disgusted with this world. We should just be ready to go home. Its like when you are out all day...or even for a few days, and you are "ok" but you just want to go home. You are ready. And yes, mom or dad say you have to stay for a bit longer. Or you need to wait for the bride and groom to cut the cake. And you really just can't wait to get home. That should be us...when can we go home?

Even so come Lord Jesus.

a short story

2010-03-06T13:05:00.002-06:00

Ok, I'm pausing the streamlining thing. I recently was asked if I wanted to join this writing email club thingy where we write short stories or excerpts and send them around to the others to get ideas and critiques etc. Well, I hadn't written anything fictional/fantasy since maybe a dragon and knight story back in my early teens. I have written papers, just not stories. I decided I would give it a shot since I'm working on a plot, and it would not be good to have a plot and then find out I can't actually write. I wrote a story and sent it out, but haven't heard back on it yet, which is understandable, but I'm impatient and so I'm posting it here too. Some of you will not like it. Some of you will wonder at my PoV. Fine. Those are the comments I'm looking for. I really just want someone to say something about it. If it stinks, tell me. If you liked it, tell me why, if not, why? So, without any more ado, I give you my short short story (only a little over 4 pages).

Elrich trudged through the marsh. The small radius of light emanating from his torch served only to keep the swarms of marsh flies from enveloping his sight. He had been bitten the first day; he had known there would be no return at the outset. He had been brave for his wife’s sake. He had been courageous for his country’s sake. He would bring peace to them.

The war had ravaged the land beyond hope of repair. Perhaps, his yet unborn child would see fruit once again– only if he succeeded in his current task.

The Grakesh had attacked without warning, driving the nations into panic. They had descended from the mountains, and swept through the scattered villages. Besieged castles fell, and all thoughts of survival dwindled. As the refugees gathered at the ancient temple of their gods, the remaining armies clashed with futile efforts.

It was at this forsaken moment that a Grakesh general, Taopold, first spoke to the nations’ armies. He bid them send a message to the Circle of the Aged. He spoke of a strange disease of the plains that had run rampant through the Grakesh camps and ravaged his people. He wished them to send an ambassador to what he called the Council of the Sun, the Grakesh leaders. His people were proud he said. They could not be seen to offer peace, but if peace were offered to them, they could accept. They would accept. The Grakesh were in dire straights and if this war did not end, they would all die. From their safety in the ancient temple the Circle feigned strength. They spoke of needing time to discuss this request.

However, the Circle did not deliberate long on the news. Their prayer had been answered, and it was with all haste that they searched out the envoy to send – someone with strength remaining, they could not seem weak; someone with a reason to end the war, someone willing to sacrifice for something he found dear.

Of course, Elrich had been the perfect candidate. They had approached him appealing to his sense of duty, his sense of honor, his courage, and the future his unborn child could expect if no one answered this call. His heart told him to let someone else give his life– he would spend his last days, few as they might be with his wife; he would feel her embrace each night. He would see the birth of his child; he would hear his child’s cry. He would defend them with his last breath, and they would die together.

His mind told him he must go. He knew the moment he heard the rise of commotion and the scattered whispers that they were coming for him. The offer from the Grakesh, and the notice of the search for a representative had spread like fire through the camps. He prayed that others would volunteer; he prayed that the council would accept; he knew it would not be.

Hope had sprung to life again in those that had settled their account with death. People were looking for life, and in their search they became far more prudent and patient then they had in the waging of the war. Had the council displayed true leadership at that time, perhaps the war would not have turned this way. The faithful soldier that he was, he had obeyed his mind and duty once again. Always reasoning, and never allowing his heart to guide him. He would forsake what he wanted most to provide that which others desired less. He would bring peace for all, and lose his family for it.

He had set out with a dozen of the imperial guard. Prior to the war, a dozen would have seemed a mere insult, but now, in this hour, a dozen seemed extravagant. The refugees lined the caverns as they proceeded to the exit— people crying, people praying, people thanking.

They had crossed into the mountains on their fourth day. They did not know this terrain and so were forced to rely upon the map provided by the Grakesh. Despite his initial hesitation the Grakesh map proved incredibly detailed and accurate. His father having been a cartographer, he found great appreciation for these intricacies. With the map, they progressed quickly. As they reached the mountain’s peak, half of the guard returned to inform the council of their progress. Ideally, they would be arriving within a few days. By that time, the treaty would be sealed.

As the mountain pass began to flatten, the black marsh lay before them. The bite of the marsh fly meant death – usually within the week. It was not a painful death; though it did create a gradual dulling of the senses. Though his guard had sworn to protect and follow till the end, they had hinted at their ploys from the beginning. They spoke of being prepared for all possibilities. What if the Grakesh had set a trap? What if the plan did not go accordingly? Should seven of the most courageous warriors die when only one was needed? He did not know if they would have kept their oath, had he not released them from it. They feigned sorrow, refusing to deny his release – at first. Then they left him alone. He alone would bring peace.

The marsh was drying now. The stony ground ahead bit into his feet. The marsh had worn his boots into nothing more than a thin covering. With the glint of sunlight streaming through the thick fog, Elrich discarded his torch: a bit of nature and life for him to experience before his despairing end. He paused only a moment to remember what he was losing, but then cleared his mind and continued ahead. According to the Grakesh general the Council of the Sun lay only two miles ahead.

Elrich plodded on. He would not allow the poison of the marsh fly to dull him any more than necessary before he approached this Council. He now represented all the nations before this invading army and he would fulfill his duty as it lay before him. He attempted to brush the grime from his traveler’s clothes, and straightened his back. He would bring peace to the land.

Grakesh guards appeared sooner than he had expected, but he was pleased for the sign of life. They came from the rocks, and escorted him closely. He fell-in between them. His body had begun to feel weak, and it was a small comfort to march in step again. He understood that their duty was twofold: to protect him and to protect others from him. He was not surprised, nor was he worried. He was not there to fight. He would bring peace.

The council was not what he had expected. He was lead up a short mountain pass into an open cave mouth. Twelve Grakesh warriors stood in a semi circle looking out over the dark land. He stood straight and strong before them. They appeared hardened, but he was prepared, and so he spoke,

“I have come to offer peace. Our peoples have battled valiantly. We have lost, and you have lost. We desire peace, and so I come to offer to you.”

Their faces gave no response, and so Erlich waited. He was a soldier, and he would remain calm awaiting their response. After a moment, what appeared to be an elderly Grakesh spoke,

“We hear you, and we acknowledge your offer of peace. We desire that our peoples coexist. Our peoples have been plagued, and our seers told us of only one way to be cured. We must find the temple of an ancient god and bring before him our gifts. We seek your help in finding aid. Will you lend this help in exchange for peace?”

Elrich allowed himself only an inward sigh. His body felt heavy, and his mind had begun to slow, but he had forced himself to grip reality until he had brought peace. Now, only a few moments away, and his child would be forever safe from the tragedies of this war. He spoke,

“I do know of this temple, and if you will provide the materials I will draw a map where your people may be healed.”

He thought he had seen the slightest glimmer of satisfaction cross the face of the Grakesh, but it was gone in a moment and he was beginning to doubt his senses. It was nothing. He was bringing peace.

They laid the materials before him, and he forced himself to clear his mind. He represented the nations and so his map would be as detailed as theirs had been. He designated every landmark and noted every danger. His father had taught him well. This map would have impressed the most ardent cartographers. He had done it; he had brought peace. He laid the map before them,

“I do lay this map before you as a sign of peace between our– “

As he spoke, he saw a blade come through his chest, and he sank to the ground. He panted and began to choke. Though his mind was struggling to cling to reality, he heard voices,

“Get this map to Taopold and tell him to attack immediately. They are weak and ready to be exterminated.”

“Did we get the second six that had returned?”

“Yes. They were quick to die. If they were among the best these weak nations has to offer, it should be over within a week.”

Elrich wondered what it meant. He wondered why he could now only see the ceiling of this dark cave. What of his wife, and child? His child would grow to hear of his heroism. He would eventually understand why his father was not there for him. He would understand duty and honor. His child would grow, see the sun, taste fruit, marry and have children.

He had brought peace.

2010-02-21T20:03:00.003-06:00

Many things to think about right now.

I have been considering Acts 19:1-7 in great detail lately. I have several commentators and references on the floor by my desk. I have spoken to several people. I need to write a paper for my class and this is my topic. I intend to talk more about it later after I have written it so that I can offer my conclusive thoughts rather than something that perchance may change. I have changed my mind a couple times on this already. ;)

I have been introduced to an alternative to both Dispensational and Covenant Theology. I haven't had too much time to read into it yet. It is Promise Theology. So far, I'm not terribly impressed or disappointed. (Does the adverb "terribly" apply to both impressed and disappointed in the previous sentence with the current grammar? Or do I need to retype "terribly" so that it is understood that I am not "terribly" disappointed, but that I can still be minimally irked? Am I incorrectly using quotation marks in the previous two sentences? Won't some English teacher explain it to me?)

I spoke to someone who offered an interesting perspective on what it really means to "believe God." Abraham believed God. That was enough. Though it was interesting, it was not correct. There was too much logic and theological perspective rather than Biblical theology.

I have been debating, internally, what makes a good/effective teacher. Much to think about there. I don't know that I am a good teacher. People tell me I am. My boss tells all of us collectively that each of us is great at what we do. I don't know if that is so much an individual encouragement or her way of telling the every other person that the people sitting next to them DO know what they are doing contrary to what you may believe. /shrug So, what makes a good teacher? Is it the person that connects to the outlying kid, and gets him to partake and interact? Is it the person that connects, in a less personal way, to every person in his classroom? Is it the person whose kids leave his room having mastered completely the subject area, though they hate the teacher? At what point is the teacher to connect on an individual level? At what point does a teacher bend on the course material? The answer on that must be the curriculum designated by the state that the class must cover, but really, who honestly knows that curriculum perfectly (perhaps besides AP teachers)? Who knows what a state official would say is permissible to skip? Really, as objective a profession as this should be, it seems too subjective to me.

Of course, then I begin to think that a logical occupation would probably be one involving law. But really, can anything get more objective than Math? Law can be subjective, math cannot. There is a correct answer and an incorrect answer. Often, though probably not ontologically, Theology seems more subjective than Math. Theology is my passion more than Math. Math is fun. And I find myself telling the kids that. "This is a fun part." "This stuff is fun to do." etc.

But theology is better than "fun." It is fun, but it is life changing. It is glorious. It is amazing. And then I hear a friend's voice telling me that all Christians are to love God's Word. Theology -- the study of God -- is to be precious to all His children.

On my "future intentions" sheet I selected that I was planning on teaching another year, Lord willing. We shall see what God has for me in the future. As this school year started, I had high hopes that I would end up in Washington at the end of 2010. This was not a dream in the sky, but actual possibility. I'm sure its gone. Things change and plans move, and God closes and opens doors.

God is good. No matter what we encounter; no matter what our trials; no matter our tribulations; no matter our circumstances; no matter whether or not we believe it or accept it; no matter the calamity in the world; no matter the economy; no matter the ruination of all America; God is good. We forget this. This is fact. People tend to think that if God allows them tribulation He isn't good anymore. Or if God really does hate sin, He can't be good then. If God intends to send sinners to Hell, He can't be good. This is from faulty theological logic. Biblical Theology says God is good. It also says that trials come into our lives. It says that God hates sin, and that sinners go to Hell. /sarcastic-gasp! God is good. Accept it. Believe it. Live it -- thank Him for his goodness. We have too much to be grateful for. I am spoiled enough to have a pitcher that filters my water for me. Really? People all over the world that would love to have running water like we have, and then we have pitchers that further filter it. (I have a sneaky suspicion that the water is just better from the pitcher because we put it in the fridge and it gets cold. Cold water is better, am I right?) I am tired of people assuming that theological, historical, or experiential truths proof God is not good, or rather that the fact is no longer fact. These aren't just the lost apostates. These are believers. Shame on you! Let the Bible dictate your system, and not the other way around.

We have revival services at church this week. We will have to leave immediately after I get home. The church is doing meals at 5:30 each day, but since I volunteered for the babysitting job, we will instead be rushing just to make the service. The evangelist is good though. Good preaching today; good preaching the last few weeks.

We ordered a digital piano. I used to play a little and I want to play again. My wife plays and I want her to be able to keep playing. I want Arielle to hear the piano as she grows up. I want her to learn to play it. I was recommended one from someone at school. We had considered buying an acoustic piano, but really, how many of you wanted to come help us move that up our stairs on some Saturday? Or maybe the question is, did we really want to have you at our place on a Sat? Ha! Just kidding. With everyone's schedules, it just seems hard to ask people to come by for something as simple as moving a piano up a flight of stairs.

It seems to me that favors were more common, and thus easier to ask for back before I was born. I would be happy to help people move stuff. I don't get asked. Maybe people still do this type of thing a lot; maybe it just has to do with the circle of friends you are in. I don't have a circle of friends like that. My close friends are spread around with a few here, and a few there. If we were all in the same town, I have no doubt I would have no problem getting them to my house to move a piano. Anyway, there was a bonus commentary on me.

We stopped by a music shop so Kaylynn could actually play the piano we were looking at. It was $50 more in the shop, and we had free shipping so we just ordered online. I am excited for it to get here.

Yes, we could have bought a Playstation 3 and pre-ordered FFXIII, but a piano is the more mature decision. This should not be misunderstood that I did not want the piano. I did. We are still thinking about a PS3 or an XBOX-360. I don't know. Its so much. But I know so many people who are going to be playing FFXIII. I would love to be one of them. When the last one came out, I had it in hand on release day. I waited a few days to play it when I went home on Thanksgiving break to play it with my siblings. It is one of the few games I try to keep with. I got behind on Metroid, Zelda, and Ninja Gaiden. No hope on catching up on those -- maybe Ninja Gaiden if I go Xbox.

A PS3 is the better machine. An XBOX I can play online, play Halo, and get Ninja Gaiden black. FFXIII comes out on either machine. Overall, I know inside that the PS3 is better, and yet I feel myself drawn to the Xbox. Of course, then I would be bugged to play COD -- Call of Duty, for those of you that don't sit with kids who talk about it all the time -- and that means the yearly subscription for $50. Either system, I need a second controller, for another $50. Games are about the same for either one. And really, even though I would probably get the new street fighter, who would I play it with? =( I wonder if my gaming life is coming to an end. Or, is it past coming to an end and its just ending now? /shrug

The thing is, that I often find myself looking for a game. In the past few months, I have played, won multiple times, and hacked KOTOR, and LoM2. Played Facebook games extensively, and then gave them up; started travian. Slow game by the way. Still waiting for book two in the King Killer Chronicles. I'm beginning to think the WoT series may finish before we get a book two. Go Sanderson! (~82% of the next book done. Each % representing 3,000 words.)

I was invited to a writing group. I'm started working on a short story and found I can't write. Phooey on me. I'm going to keep working on it. I would like to write a book, and that means I better be able to write a short story. My problem tends to be in the writing, not the plot. I can figure out an "ok" plot, at least in my opinion.

I recommended a movie with little qualification to someone to whom I definitely should have added qualification. For whatever reason I didn't. If I would have thought about it, I would have know she would not have liked the movie, yet I recommended it anyway...sorry mom; I'll be more careful next time.

Having a baby is great. Isaac always told me it was. It was just one of his things. He would say, "It is great! I can't describe it. It is the best thing ever. She's just the best." Every time I would see him he would tell me this. He advised we don't wait to have kids because they are just the best. She is. Arielle is just that -- great, perfect, adorable. She makes me speechless.

And while I had my suspicions, it is now confirmed that my great wife is also a great mother. She is fantastic. God has blessed me greatly, and I am very grateful. While I'm bragging, let me add that Arielle doesn't cry unless there is something very wrong. And usually, that is a just a whimper. She is so good. I don't know...if I didn't know the theological implications, I might assume that she didn't have a sin nature. Somehow it must have missed her. Just kidding... ;)

streamlining a little

2010-02-12T19:36:00.002-06:00

As I wrote my last blog, I had this feeling that I was writing haphazardly. I felt I was beginning to lose my coherence. I reread it, and though it might seem a tad off, it doesn't read poorly, in my opinion.

But, it started me thinking. While my blog has been my private journal, I want to keep moving it from less of a journal/diary and into more of a teaching tool, and/or a more efficient way for me to catalog my thoughts. (Besides, when I write my logical thought process works out its kinks.)

I have mentioned stuff like this before. God has given me things to think, write, and say. (Not in direct revelation or commission of course, but anything worth thinking on my mind is not of my own.) I have thought in detail about a newsletter or a journal publication, but that is not in my sphere of possibility right now. And so, I blog.

I would like this to become scholarly, but that involves more than I have the resources for. Scholarship necessitates citation and review. It won't be scholarly for me to write something good. If I write the same thing citing many scholars and submit to a publication it becomes scholarly. I would love to do that, but in order to cite people, I need access to them. MBBC had a great library in my opinion and I had heard it was great compared to others. There isn't anything down here comparable from what I know. I heard things down here weren't good. I haven't tried the University here in Tampa (whichever one it is), maybe that would work.

Another option is a $400-600 program that includes 10,000s articles on theology. No money eliminates that for now.

I had mentioned something in my past blog that might be worth more discussion but I forget now what it was and so I will be done for tonight.

Goodnight, goodnight, and goodnight.

baby, church, doctrine, and more

2010-02-05T10:52:00.004-06:00

I have a baby girl! She is the most precious thing. She is cute, sweet, adorable, and angelic. Yes, she is angel-like. Thanks to everyone for praying.

We joined a church. It took over a year of looking and praying, but God led us to one. Fellowship Baptist in Thonotosassa, FL. It is a little ways driving, but it is where we believe God wants us. We spent 2.5 hours talking with the pastor and his wife two Mondays ago. It went well from my perspective. Of course, my wife and sister told me that I was not very responsive, so we don't know what the pastor and his wife thought.

I'm not a very responsive individual. People at my job tell me that. People at home tell me that. I just don't respond to things. I sit and listen without a response, and without changing my facial expressions (for the most part). Sometimes, I am in complete agreement, and sometimes I am arguing vehemently on the inside. But you couldn't tell the difference from my countenance. Of course, if you know me and what I believe you would be able to know from the conversation how I was feeling. Anyway, overall I am happy with this aspect of me. I do not see a need to change it. I'm sure that there will be times where the outcome is negative because of it, but that is the same with almost everything, and it fits me better to remain quiet.

Ignorance. I am ignorant of quite a bit. It drives me insane.

Side note: You know why Socrates was killed (according to Plato's apology)? He claimed to be wiser than all other men. Yet, his wisdom was not in that he knew more, but in that he recognized his ignorance. They thought they knew, and he knew he didn't know. I'm not saying others don't know, but I am acutely aware that I do not know.

Back on track. Acts 19:1-6. Disciples, saved or not? I have generally held strong opinions on stuff like this because I am a black and white law person. But, then I start reading on what it means to be a dispensationalist, and I realize that I was probably wrong on my opinion of that passage. This is another instance of pointing out something that I am going to be wrong about. Obviously we aren't all going to be right about everything. I think we all would admit this, and yet, I also think that we act the other way about it. We know we can't be right about everything, and then we argue tooth and nail for something small where there is every possibility that we could be wrong. /sarcasm-on I have never done that...ever. /sarcasm-off

Another interesting thing that I recently found/figured out was the inconsistency in the Reformed/Covenant position.

Slight Digression: To be reformed almost certainly means 5-point Calvinist and maybe hyper Calvinist. I only say "almost certainly" on the off chance that someone tries to be Reformed and not Calvinist, but that doesn't happen. On the other hand, you can most assuredly be Calvinist, and NOT be reformed. So, Reformed includes Calvinist. Calvinist does not include Reformed. They are not equivalent terms. Often however, it is not entirely inaccurate to equate the terms Covenant and Reformed. Covenant is a system of theology that is held by almost all reformed denominations. Again, the almost all is in case there is a rare case out there. Lastly, even after some searching, the general stance of a Reformed Baptist is a hard one for me to pin down. Does it mean they are covenant and yet believe in immersion? The combining of those two is humanly irreconcilable, like the hypostatic union. But, assuming they believe it is what the Bible teaches, then they would practice it on faith and not worry about the logic. Or (back to the previous "does it mean" sentence) does it mean, rather erroneously, that they are Calvinistic Baptists? I don't know, and I don't have the time to try to find a consensus on it right now.

So, what was this inconsistency I stumbled upon? Well, since reformed are Calvinist, often many see the logical outworking of Calvinism in Scripture as double-predestination, that is, the predestination of the elect to Salvation and the predestination of the lost to damnation. Since this is the case of belief for many, it fights strongly with the Covenant system whose grounding principle, indeed the one they brag about, is that everything throughout all eternity is leading to the glory of God as evidenced in the Salvation of the elect. However, damnation is the opposite of salvation and fits the argument of the dispensationalist much better. (not the predeterminate counsel to damn, but rather the act itself) The dispensationalist argues that the end and beginning of all eternity is God's glory. Not just manifested in Salvation, which, though it is a large part, is not all God has done, nor is doing. God created angels and there is no plan of Salvation for them, and yet God receives glory from them. The basic premise that everything works for God's glory is simple and will not be argued even by many Covenant theologians. However, they do argue the means by which this glory is accomplished and they believe the center to all history is solely salvation, diminishing all God has done apart from that.

Note: Do not misunderstand the Dispensationalists view upon the matter of Salvation. We hold salvation to be by God, for God's glory, and we hold it to be one of the major ways in which God demonstrates His glory. However, it is not the only way, and we believe that God is working history for the end of his glory, not for the conclusion of his salvation plan.

The oddity here, amongst all the reviews and overviews of belief is that the Calvinist is the one who believes God is active in damning, while at the same time holding the position that God's working in history is primarily for the accomplishing of Salvation. Many dispensationalists will argue (wrongly) that man has the ability, apart from the electing grace of God, to determine to get saved, and yet argue that God's goal in history is his own glory, and this end is furthered by his just damnation of the wicked. Interesting stuff.

Thoughts on systematics. Generally, there are different types of ways of studying the Bible. Biblical theology is basically Bible study. It attempts to use the context, and what is going on in the text to determine what is happening in that text. It used the previous texts to look at what has happened and then looks forward to the coming texts. Using "Biblical Theology" we have different methods of interpretation. We have literal, that is the historical grammatical, interpretation. That is what Dispensationalists try to use consistently. Covenant theologians also use this type of hermeneutic, yet they abandon it for allegorical interpretation when in contrasts their system. The allegorical interpretation is when they begin to interpret a text, often prophecy using allegory instead of the literal, historical, grammatical hermeneutic.

Still with me? Hopefully some of the was familiar. Ok, then from the "Biblical Theology" we also have "Systematic Theology." I have heard negative things said about systematics, but there are reasons for them. Anyway, a systematic deals not with a passage, but with a topic. So, the systematics often deal with things like Theology Proper, Christology, Neumotology, Ecclesiology, etc. So a system may analyze a topic throughout the entire Bible. We use a system on Christ to study him in depth, rather than look at individual passages. The benefits would seem to be immediately obvious. An in depth study on any particular topic is necessary in order to have greater understanding. Instead of seeing God as just a jealous God, and an consuming fire in one passage, we also see God as gracious, merciful, and love. It causes us to see God in a more complete picture than any single passage would do.

Systems impact everything. The general covenant theologian does not put stock in infant baptism because of the life giving power of the water. However, their system says that to enter the covenant community of God, the children of the community need a sign/symbol/ordinance to enter -- thus baptism. As the OT had circumcision, so the NT has baptism. Therefore, it requires far more than just proving baptism is for the saved, or the elect, or the children of God, because they argue that the children of saved parents enter the covenant via their parents and their parents faith in baptizing them.

Systems can be good and bad. Systems lead to details and intricacies that often are not seen with just Bible theology. Acts 19 for example, is not clear in and of itself on whether the disciples were saved or not. However, looking at the way God has worked across dispensations, and will allow us to examine what some may say was an exception, and yet, exceptions do take place.

I fear I am lacking clarity as I continue. We all know we need to compare Scripture with Scripture. A system allows us to work through Scriptures in a logical order, in accordance with what we find in the Bible. A system allows us to logically approach a passage in biblical study. A system leads us to an understanding of some of the deeper issues. Christ's death was a substitutionary atonement, a vicarious sacrifice, a propitiaion, etc. The full range of implications of each of these is not derived from a single verse or passage.

However, systems are dangerous too. Turretin's system allowed him to state with authority that The Fall happened in Autumn. Last night I read how someone calculated the beginning of the Earth at 4004BC, Oct. 23, 9am. At some point, these men were mistaken in their systems. A system involves both theological facts, and the logic used to reach the next fact. So, their facts are off on something actually bigger, or their logic is off. And when you read someone who is generally really good and you are in agreement and then you hit something like the above two instances, you need to stop and wonder. Is he (and if you are in agreement, you) off on a fact of theology? Or is it the logic involved in getting there?

FYI, I like Turretin, and though he is strongly Covenant, and allegorizes, he is worth reading. That brings up another fact: even people who are wrong about stuff, often say good things. It does not mean you endorse the person wholeheartedly, but it does mean you can recommend what he has written or done.

Note: While reading a popular Covenant book, I began to realize that his beginning chapters of defining terms and expressions were actually very dangerous to agree with. If I had lent assent to his beginning definitions, I feel as if his logic would have been accurate to lead to his ending system. It was the definitions that were off in this case.

So, to sum up a bit. Covenant theologians put themselves into a large dilemma using two of the systems they are most known for. It is admitted on all sides that Dispensational theology is derived from consistent application of the literal, historical-grammatical hermeneutic. Systems are extremely helpful in interpreting Scripture. We must be careful when using them that we do not allow either poor logic or an inaccurate theological fact to drive our system somewhere the Bible does not go. Even people with wrong systems are correct in parts of their systems. Therefore when a theological fact is accepted on all sides, it is the logic that must be analyzed in order to avoid encountering the same errors.

I think that is all for today...sorry I don't blog enough. I want to write a newsletter or something...but I think that many people would sign-up, perhaps out of courtesy, but few would read it. That is not what I want. I want a few people who would read, and want to read. I have a desire to learn, and I want to appeal to that desire in others, though I don't even know if it is really there. And then again, who am I to try to impart anything? Thoughts for anther blog perhaps.

Oh, by the way, my dad built a welder, and an arc-welder because he wanted to and he could...he just built them...how awesome is that? Pretty awesome.

the gifts and calling of God

2010-01-08T19:31:00.004-06:00

It usually frustrates me trying to come up with a blog heading. So, as I was contemplating this blog, I arrived at this title. It worked and made me happy.

Then I figured I might as well explain something now that I have such a title. The title comes from Romans 11:29. However, I doubt I will reference the verse or chapter again. This is something Spurgeon has done on many occasions. Let me explain why this is not necessarily wrong, and also identify some of the cons that can derive from it.

First, the reason for the topic heading is that I want to talk about (1) the gifts of God and the burdens he lays on peoples' hearts, and (2) the calling of God. Those were the two things driving this blog (and in that order, though I will deal with them in reverse order). And so, as I thought about this, the verse comes to mind that names these two things. Again, I do not intend on going through an exegeses of this verse. It is a familiar phrase to me and others, and so it fits as my title.

Spurgeon did things similar to this in his devotionals, and sometimes it would appear so from his printed sermons as well. He would name a passage, read the Scriptural reference and then speak of some named things mentioned in the text, but not spoken of in the text. An example is what I'm doing tonight. Some blame Spurgeon for his "poor exegetical practices." They must understand that Spurgeon did know how to exegete and that he did do so. Before he would preach the messages in print, he would exegete the passage to his congregation during the Scripture reading. He placed a high amount of importance on the proper exposition of God's Word. He understood its place and spoke of how he studied more for the exposition of the reading than he did the preaching of the message.

The biggest con is that people today use any text as a springboard for something they want to say, rather than for something the Scriptures say. Spurgeon, as has been said many times, is not to be emulated in some of the things he does. He would often pick his Sunday morning topics the night before, and his evening service the afternoon of. Would we recommend preachers today attempt this feat? (I think I may have sat through services where the preacher tried...We came out disgusted.) Preachers today shouldn't attempt those things. We should try to emulate Spurgeon in what we can, but not try to emulate the gifts God gave him but did not give to us. Spurgeon spoke admirably, and strongly of not just the benefits, but the necessity of expositional preaching. If preachers today can first grasp this concept and the importance of it, they will quickly learn (from the text) that they cannot just take a few words from a verse and then talk the rest of the hour.

Ok, that was about the title. Now onto the actual blog.

Starting with "calling." And since its getting late now, I may not get to finish gifts/burdens. Let's go. At work, people in the offices/administration regularly use the word "called" or "calling." In the beginning I assumed that they just meant God wanted you here.

Them Me
"You are called to be here." "It is God's will that you are here right now"
"God has called us to this school" "God wants us to work at this school."

But now I'm not so sure it is a matter of semantics (besides, semantics DO matter). Coming into this environment I assumed that "calling" was being used incorrectly. So, this will give me a chance to study and confirm my preconceived notion with biblical basis, or I will find out I'm wrong. =D

Well, the word "calling" occurs 24 times in the Bible. Not too many to read when you have a Biblical Concordance on the PC. With the exception of 1 Cor. 7:20, none of them can be construed in anyway to assume that God calls people in the manner mentioned previously.

Of course, the word "called" occurs 603 times -- a few too many to view tonight. Many of these of course are normal usage such as "God called the light day." Also, many are being "called" (elected, chosen, etc) to salvation. Acts 13:2 God called Paul and Barnabas to a work (missions). Often, Paul mentions being "called" to be an apostle. God calls us to peace, the grace of Christ, life, unto his kingdom, unto holiness, light, etc.

At the moment, I am actually thinking that I may be incorrect in my thinking that calling referred only to pastors and missionaries (ie. preachers). The most applicable passage seems to be Acts 13:2 where Paul is called to missions. But this calling did not necessarily mean that it happened at the moment, it could mean the calling from a eternity, or from their salvation point etc.

There are three different Greek words translated "called" but there isn't a noticeable difference between them.

It appears right now, that the elect/called are called to things that all include the same thing -- the list above are all things that coincide with salvation. Perhaps that is all there is to "calling." This would mean, that I was wrong, and that the school is wrong. We are not "called" to be there. If calling applies equally to all the saints then we are only called to be saints and not to be saints that work at CCS.

There is my current conclusion; I will do more research later.

What I mostly wanted to blog about is the different burdens God lays upon the hearts of different people, and it is now 11:35. Let's see.

I know a lot of people with different burdens. Burdens for kids. Burdens for the country. Burdens for the church. Burdens for all sorts of stuff. People have a heart for the lost, or for the family unit, or for the people in Africa, or the people in China, or the people in Palau, etc. People have burdens and desires to help all sorts of things. Some people have a desire to see Christianity work together in unity as the Bible speaks of unity in many different places. Some people have a desire for the militancy of the Gospel that no man preach anything other than that which is preached.

I think the first thing here, is that people need to accept that different people have different burdens and different things God had pressed upon their hearts. We too often try to impress our burdens on others.

The second thing that we need to be aware of is that often, several of these burdens and things being emphasized are both correct. Example: God commands unity, and God commands separation. So, we need to find the correct way of fulfilling both of those commands. Not just one, not just the other -- both. Along with this, the burden for the lost and the burden for the church are both commanded. The burden for the family is something we should all care about. We should all care about the direction of our nation. I am not implying a lack of care exists with those who have a burden. God impresses a greater burden for different things. This is how I am using the word "burden."

On a side note, I find it interesting that while Christ came to "seek and to save that which was lost," he loved the church and "gave himself for her." The offer of salvation is for all (general call). Only the elect get the special call. Christ came to provide salvation to mankind/sinners/lost (generally). However, that salvation is applied to the church (specifically). I say this of course to justify my present burden--the church. Of course we must love the lost and go and win them, but they cannot all be won. Indeed, the church itself is the bride, and while we are attempting to add to the body of Christ, we must needs keep the body healthy and pure for Christ.

I see people who seem to have a gift and ability and desire to use that gift with children. The burden upon their heart is the children they deal with. I pray for my kids. I desire to instruct them in godly principles as well as math. But my burden is not for them. My burden is not for CCS. My burden has never been for the lost either. I pray about that. I know that I need to love them. And I work on it. But it is not my burden. I have a strong sense of desire to do something in the country. I love that my cousin is running for office and try to help whenever I can. I wish I could do more. I would want to be his right hand man in this if I were there. I boast of myself to think he might as well. I also have a strong desire for the church. I have had both of those desires/burdens for years. I have often wanted to be politically active. I have debated what I could do in a church. I weep for the state that we are in. Perhaps I see more action that can be taken in the nation than in the church. There is action being taken nationwide to remove all the current representatives. People are working hard for this upcoming election cycle.

By the way, if you have not registered here: http://www.libertyaction.org/310 go do it. There are sites out there that you can find all of your elected officials just by entering your zip code. There is no excuse for not being active in today's process. And this is not just for the people whose burden this is. This is the part that every Christian should be taking. Those who have the burdens are the ones protesting, attending tea parties, and running for office. Every Christian should be standing up for what is right in the legal means presented by our Constitution.

Back to what I was saying. People are working hard across the nation for conservative values. I don't see that in the church of God. Maybe I see the momentum and my desire to make a difference sees a bigger advantage for joining the political movement than the church reforming movement. That of course is not a movement. It is an individual church by church occurrence where the pastor gets in the pulpit and actually preaches the word. The people in the pew are diligent to study it and apply it, and the church as a whole is zealous for God in remaining pure and winning the lost. One little church doing that does not reform the church as a whole. And yet, something tells me that that little church is where I would be most happy.

It is late. I have more thoughts, but my brain is slowing, and I need to go to bed with my wife. Goodnight to all.

music

2010-01-04T16:52:00.002-06:00

A short synopsis of music: my thoughts and conclusions thus far (I have not come to a sure conclusion on music yet)

The Bible has little to say on what music is, and on what is right or wrong about it. The Bible tells us to be musical. -- Col. 3:16, Eph. 5:19, (And a host of OT verses where David was involved in both composing and playing music, and using music to worship God.)

Some other facts:

The Bible does not define music (as far as I have found; I would be interested if someone could prove otherwise). I wonder if I need to be a music major to define music acceptably. I do not have a definition currently. It will take time/study which I don't have much of currently.

The Bible does not condemn any particular beat/melody.

Different cultures involve different types/styles/beats/etc. Therefore, just because we are an Anglo-Saxon culture does not mean that all other styles/types/etc are wrong.

Music can consist of both lyrics and melody. Obviously, bad lyrics -- swearing, wrong theme/topic, etc -- are wrong, and shouldn't be listened to. That is the easy part.

Music can appeal to the body. This should not be immediately paralleled to the flesh as contrasting the spirit. When in worship, many have been compelled to dance, and leap, praising God. Acts 3:1-11 (I am not arguing that this is the norm, rather that it was not wrong for the previously lame man to praise God in this way, IE. with his body involved.) 2 Sam. 6:12-23 (The classic example. "David danced before the Lord with all his might;" He further defended his actions to his wife who thought it inappropriate.) This fact (that it appeals to the body)is often used as a statement of fact, implying the immediate parallel that it is wrong. Many things appeal to the body, and are not inherently sin. A simple example, is eating chocolate. It appeals to many people's bodies, and it is not wrong to eat chocolate. It can be sinful if you over-eat. It doesn't mean chocolate is wrong. There are other examples which I won't go into. Continuing, music can indeed be wrong if the purpose, and/or atmosphere/environment lends itself to the sinful appeal to flesh. Let me also state here that "purpose" and "intentions" are not enough. Many do things with good purpose/intention, but it is still wrong. The music must provide an environment, a tug, an inclination, etc. that does not appeal to the flesh (not just the body) rather than the spirit.

A particular melody cannot be said to be wrong in and of itself. Different melodies are not therefore wrong.

Other issues that pertain to music:

Let's begin with association. Many musicians today may be affiliated with sinful things. Does this mean that one cannot/shouldn't enjoy a particular song by said person? To adopt such a stance is either hypocritical, or impossible. Almost every store, and brand are associated with something wrong. To boycott a single store/brand leaves you a hypocrite. Stores/brands/people support hollywood, sex, homosexuals, alcohol, etc. Therefore, it is impossible to separate ourselves from it in this way. We are not to be of the world, but we do live in it. Recall, we are discussing association. We take good things from the reformed; we take stuff from the church fathers; we take stuff from some of the old Catholics. We do not give them our approval. We use what is good and ignore what is bad. We may only recommend them with discretion and a disclaimer. So, the same can be said with musicians.

Church music vs personal music. Is there, and should there be a difference? Like all things, we are to live our lives glorifying to God. This does not mean that if something does not have direct glory to God it should be ignored. God has given us the Earth and the fullness thereof for our good and enjoyment -- it is often through these things that we enjoy the goodness of God. Thus, I can enjoy Beethoven, understanding that music itself is a gift from God, and appreciating the gift God gave to him to be able to compose and play the piece. That applies to personal music. Church music however needs to be directly pointed to the worship of God. It is not enough to be neutral. We come to God's house to worship. So, while it may be "ok" to listen to jailhouse rock on the way to work, it is not appropriate for church. Music in church needs to draw our body, mind, and spirit into a position of humility and worship before a holy God. That means the lyrics needs to be directed that way, and that the melody needs to as well.

This leads to my last point: melody in church. Different people grow up in different environments ranging from cultural, to regional. These differences can be huge. Add to that, that many are indoctrinated in the view that their music is correct, and it can be a hurdle too large for someone to overcome to attend a church where the music differs. I cannot however find any evidence or reason to imply a morality (good or bad) in any of these differences (assuming of course, as I said before, that the primary purpose and the pull/atmosphere is the worship and glory of God).

Thoughts are welcome. I wouldn't mind some possible definitions of music either.

church decisions

2009-12-30T22:02:00.003-06:00

So, after a lot of discussion and thought, I have come to some conclusions. I am still uncertain if I'm beginning with those, or with the the recent church experiences. Yeah, let's start with those.

We heard that we should try a church that was another 35-40 minutes away. So, we did. We went in the morning. We sat in the back. Another man sat in front of us. He noticed several other people greeting us, and so he turned around to greet us too. He was also a visitor he said. He was the original pastor of the church we were at which he started some several years ago. In the conversation we mentioned we were from MI. I'm assuming that was the reason that he then did something surprising. He recommended another church. He was talking in a whispered voice. More along the humorous tone than a hushed secretive tone. He assumed we were "independent," then went on to say he was part of the Southern Baptist Convention. "Heretics" he said, then chuckled. He was a nice guy. The service was horrible. The preaching was just a mess. The pastor's kid I had seen and recognized from MBBC. He recognized us too. The pastor's wife was a talker...took us a while to get out. It was a mess.

In the evening service, we went to the church recommended by the pastor at the other one. It was better. Preaching was some of the best we had heard in a long while. (Not to say it was great. It wasn't. Just better than some.) The music wasn't bad. Wasn't exactly traditional; wasn't real modern either. The beat was not at all heavy. The melody was fine. The words however were new, and on a screen. I am not opposed to a screen all the time. However, when they are new songs, and there is no music to follow, it makes it very weird. I was not able to take part in the worship. I wanted to sing. I didn't know the tune. The words were on the screen, but I could not sing and make a joyful noise unto the Lord. That was the same tonight. I don't like screens. I like reading music.

The preaching Sunday was ok. Like I said, not great. It was satisfactory for the last Sunday night of the year. It was understandable with much application. But it was not deep. It was not something that would be good if it typified the regular messages at the church. My fear is it did. We will have to wait to find out. Tonight was not good. There are two screens. One behind the pastor; one behind the congregation. The pastor's notes on the screen. Well, tonight he couldn't keep a sentence together without referencing the wall. It interrupted his sentences, and his thought patterns. Now, he did have two funerals today with graveside services. So, he had an exhausting day. So, again, I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. That has been our church experience this week.

Now, on to my conclusions regarding churches, and memberships, and all that good stuff that drives a man insane. We have been looking for a long time. Over a year. We have been disgusted, discouraged, and downhearted. We have talked to a lot of people. We have thought this through from many different angles. Different things have appealed to us. We have bent on things we didn't want to.

The question is really, "How important is church attendance and/or membership?" If, attendance is really really really important, than maybe that outweighs the importance of some other doctrine, preference, etc. If membership is important, that changes things too.

The Bible places importance on fellowship and joining to a local church. This importance is not to be neglected nor is it voided by the importance the Bible places on other things.

Important things: (1) If we find a Baptist church, we are less likely to encounter stuff like baby baptizing, or elder rule. (2) If they hold to the KJV then the Word of God will go forth. It never returns void, and so God's Word will accomplish what He wills it to accomplish. (3) Arielle needs to be in church. She needs to get into the habit of being there. She needs to know it is important for her parents to be in church and on time. She needs to know we understand the importance of the Word of God. She won't get a lot of that in the beginning. But she will get the habit. She will learn to sit still and listen. And, by the age of three, she will have some of the habit. (4) It is important for us to be around the saints too. We need it even when we think we don't. Praising God, singing, giving, and hearing the Word preached is something we can't measure in a tangible way. It is amazing how much difference it makes to be in God's house. (5) If we are in church, we can make a difference. We can serve. We can be active. We can be an encouragement to others. We can do those things. The stories I have heard of the Calvinists being the most active witnesses at the church could not have taken place if they had not joined the church where such a thing like that would be noticed. I need to be faithful in the smaller things. I need to go on visitation. I need to go door-to-door. I haven't done that before. I need to be involved. Before, I was thinking I needed to teach, and so I wouldn't join a church where that wouldn't happen. Maybe I shouldn't be starting by asking and telling the stance on Calvinism. Oh well.

Anyway, so there is our decision. Maybe I'll post some of it on facebook, so all the others with some input can read our reasoning.

friends, pride, family, debate, emotions

2009-12-18T15:20:00.003-06:00

Well, its been over a month since I blogged last (again.) What's new? Lots of stuff; and lots is old. Lots are old? "Lots is" does not sound right, but of course, that's because I am skipping words. Much remains the same. There.

I realized recently that I wanted someone to talk to about what was going on. I thought many times of the people I could call, or just see and talk to, and yet, time constraints, and my hesitation prevented me. It is good to talk to friends and family of the events of my life. What I have been hesitant about is that things aren't going so great, and I am not looking for pity. Compassion? maybe. Understanding, and encouragement: definitely.

I have a hard time accepting things from others. People are kind. They are generous. I just have a hard time accepting it. Maybe it is a foolish self-reliance (though, I would admit I am not reliant on myself). In the end, I understand that it is probably my pride, in that I can care and provide for myself. Asking for and accepting help means that I am not capable. Of course, writing/thinking it out, I see the foolishness in it. What difference does it make, if God provides through an extra tutoring session this week, and through my family next week. God is providing either way. But, I can claim some form of involvement in the first. Perhaps that is why my pride gets in the way.

It is Christmas time. I am out of school. I have two weeks off. The librarian walked by today and asked if I was heading to MI. I had to say no. Then I had to think about it. I try to avoid that. I do a pretty good job about it. This year doesn't seem like Christmas is real anyway. I'm trying to snap out of that. No snow. No cold. I'm still wearing shorts and flip-flops. I did wear jeans a few times...but that's not enough. We have done some Christmas shopping, but we were not able to get people as much as we would have liked.

Here is a bah-humbug section. I don't like the exchanging of gifts. Perhaps I don't like it because I can't afford to give something that really shows thought. If the thought is what counts, what thought does it really show to buy a giftcard? I mean, I have some stuff that I would have liked to give people; they probably would have liked it. I couldn't. That frustrates me. We exchange gifts, because it is expected. Now, this isn't everyone. But it isn't because I found THIS and I wanted to give it to you because I thought you would like it.

What do I want for Christmas? I want to be with family and relax, and have fun. I want the people around me to be happy. I don't want some "thing."

This will be my first Christmas I am not with all my family. Well, I am with MY family, but I think you know what I mean. It will be my first Christmas where I am not in MI. I will miss all the people. Everyone knows I would be there if I could. Because we had to come to this conclusion several months ago, it seems odd that it is just getting here now. I have kinda already gone through the disappointment of not being in MI, and now its actually here. . .and I will not be seeing my parents, my brother, my sisters, my cousins. /sigh. God is good.

That brings up more frustrations. Family Christmas just got canceled. I better not blog about it. . . . . .It might be too touchy; but it hurt.

Let me segue from that into something else touchy. Debate and personal feelings. When debating about Scripture, and therefore absolute truth, we are not talking about what hurts your feelings. Just because the Bible teaches election and you are offended because now God is not fair in your eyes, or because now you feel a sense of robotics affecting you. It does not matter how you feel one bit. What matters is truth. So what if you think that God is too loving to not save the "good" [insert denomination here]. Does that matter one bit? I have been in discussions with people where it becomes personal too fast and their view is dictated on their experience. At MBBC, I said something (don't even remember what, sorry) and some kid got very upset (he was the emotional type) because his dad was a pastor and what I said disagreed with something his dad did. It was an immediate abandoning of the Scripture presented. We had to stop the discussion because he was too caught up in it. I didn't understand it.

Obviously, there are things that are hard to discuss. There are things that are hard to deal with, and proper timing is important. But really, I think we are fools if we think we can discuss things without them affecting our lives. It matters where we put our trust. Is our trust in these people? Our dad? Our mom? Our pastor? Our college professor? Our husband? Our wife? If we put our trust in these people, we will be in turmoil if it can be shown that they are wrong. It will destroy our erroneous world view. If our worldview rests on the notion of someone or something being correct and that is not the Scripture, then we are foolish.

Too often however, we think we are resting on Scripture and instead are resting on Scripture plus that other something. I am not talking about our faith, but about what we know of life, and our worldview. It is not enough for me to rest on Scripture and my parents, so why would I do so, or be inclined to do so? (I am not, fyi.) Here is why people feel inclined that way. Well, there may be more than one reason. Here is one.

"In ignorance, people idolize the intelligent." (Yes, once I started that sentence I realized what a point could be made, and would be by many attempting to be neat, when in fact it truly seems lousy to me. I only finished it to be able to point out that hearing stuff like that in a sermon makes me just wish that he would "preach the word.") People look up to their parents and pastor because they have learned all they know from them. These people are like sponges. (By the way, a sponge lacks discernment.) They sit in front of their dad and are wrongfully in awe. They sit in class with their mouths hanging open at the professor's supposed genius. They, like hungry puppies, follow the pastor around the church snatching at every scrap. So, yes, they place undo importance on their teachers. (I shouldn't have to put this disclaimer here, but I do anyway...(that itself bothers me in church, when pastors have to put disclaimers on stuff. . .sad day we are living in.)So, here is the actual disclaimer: I am not saying we shouldn't respect our parents, pastors, professors. Indeed, we owe them much because they have given their time and their knowledge to help us grow. But we are not to come to depend on them. We are to grow, and mature so that we no longer need them in for our every move, but rather as counselors. And the wise will make use of his counselors.)

Well, I have strayed from the path, but in this case, the path was not absolute, and so no harm was done. One of my friends in seminary shared some of his notes with me. It was great to read them. Made me miss it. I often do, when I read the issues of deep doctrine. Some people do not need to know. Others do not want to know. I crave it.

On that note, I have been reminded often lately of how we are all to crave it. We are to crave God's Word. I'm not saying we should all love to try to figure out what logical order there was to four of God's decrees (creation, fall, salvation, election). No, not for everyone, but we should all desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby. It is a huge encouragement to me when I read, or hear others talking about Scripture. When I see application of it. I see it in my life, and it helps seeing it in others. Not to say I'm perfect, or anywhere near it. There are just some things I do because I should.

Continuing, it is interesting to see how my generation has turned out. Some I talk to and hear about God working in their lives. I see and hear the struggles they are going through, and the blessings they encounter. Others, I know little. It is when you know little that the mind can be most dangerous. Of those that I know little, I generally, being the cynic I am, do not think good without reason. It doesn't necessarily mean I think bad, BUT its much easier to get a reason to think bad. I have to be careful.

I am looking at getting my teaching certificate. I have to take some general knowledge test where I have to answer questions and write an essay. Then I have to take some Math test to be able to teach math 6th-12th. I'm guessing it isn't too hard. The only cost I've seen so far is fingerprinting, which I have already done, so that's good. But, I will probably have to pay something when it is actually time to take the tests.

I won KOTOR twice. Once as dark, once as light. Dark was more fun. I found a cheating mod where I could edit my gear, stats, skills, feats, powers, etc. Made the second game a bit easier, but also it may have made it boring...or that could have been me playing the same thing I had a week back. I've been thinking of getting Kingdom hearts 2, mostly because I was wanting a game. That kinda died though. A game doesn't sound too appealing right now. Maybe I just need a better game. I heard assassin's creed was pretty good. I haven't played any of the neverwinter night, oblivion, elder scrolls stuff. (I don't even know if those are the same games, or related or what.) We were really thinking of getting an xbox/wii for christmas. That was when we thought we could afford something more.

I really want to get a piano. Kaylynn would like to play, and I would like to hear her. I also have been wishing for a musical instrument lately, and if we have to buy one, it might as well be something we can both play (at least a little for me).

I have been thinking of writing a book again. Yes, I do that regularly. This time, I kept thinking about it and thinking about it. Finally, a story came to me. Then I get online to see what money we might be talking about. Probably a penny an hour. Writers don't get much, unless they sell huge. Harry Potter, and Twilight made those ladies rich. I can't write to a crowd that I can't really appreciate though. And I can't appreciate twilight, and the writing of HP just seemed childish (well, duh! It was for kids).

Anyway, most writers get paid twice a year. From what I saw, it might be reasonable to expect $1 a book for every hardcover book that sells. And it might be reasonable to expect $.40 for every softcover. If I want to live on that, I'm going to have to sell a LOT of books. Of course, there are billions of people and if only 60,000 want my book, I could live with that. HA! Anyway, I know I don't have what Tolkien had. I don't have what Jordan had. I don't think I even have close to Rothfuss. I don't know about Martin. Could never make it through the beginning of his series.

The other problem I have is knowledge base. Rothfuss said in one of his early interviews that he has read around 10,000 novels. I was not an English major, nor did I teach English, nor work with literature for a living. I have read WoT, NotW, and LotR. Go me? I think not. I've read more I'm sure, but not in the non-sci-fi fantasy genre. Every bookstore and library has shelf after shelf of fantasy. I don't even know where to start for fear of being disappointed. I'm not going to pay $8 to read something that I'm going to regret. That's why I wait for Matt to tell me to read something.

Regardless, it has been an outlet for my mind the last two days to continue to build this story. To work around the pitfalls. I try to think of what I would want to happen were I reading the book, then I plan conflict before that can happen. I don't like the way things work out luckily. But I want the protagonist to get the break he needs. Kvothe met Abenthy early on, but that was not considered too lucky since the conflict had not yet begun. Further, the next noticable break that he gets (that I recall) is when his loot gets broken and he gets a lot of money from Ambrose. Anyway, I am working on some stuff.

I need to go, this has been long and my wife has been far too patient. Since it is unlikely I will blog again, Merry Christmas to all, and a Ho Ho Ho!!

backlogged

2009-11-04T18:56:00.003-06:00

So, its been a week and a half since I've been back. Enough time to finish my left over grading, to do something many teachers do, but take the other side and get yelled at, to start a tutoring session four times a week, to start a computer programming club, and to head up a group of teachers trying to get some consistency brought to the uniform rules. Busy week.

Yes, I am tutoring a student 1v1 at school, during my free 8th period. She missed almost the entire first quarter, and needed to catch up. I was asked, and couldn't really turn it down when I'm going to be at school anyway, and now I'm getting paid for those 4 hours twice. I do lose my free 8th period.

Then, I began to setup for a computer club. I was asked, by students, prior to going to MI, and I was happy to start. Then I was asked about the tutoring, so the conclusion then, is that during one 8th period, probably Tuesday, I will be doing the computer club, which means that on that day, my tutoring will move to 3rd period, so I lose 1 3rd period a week too. My time is slipping away from me.

Yes, I got in trouble. I should have probably known better, but at the same time I was not the only one, just that when I did it, it was "inflammatory." /shrug. Its over and I will just be more careful in the future.

In addition, I've been doing more thinking about everything previously blogged. While in MI I heard a Sunday school lesson that was very applicable to this stuff. 1 Cor. 7 and Romans 14. "Knowledge puffeth up." "Charity edifieth." "All things are lawful." "All things are not expedient."

So, let's go hypothetical for a bit. I have knowledge that I can eat meat, but that is not what matters. The other guy has knowledge that eating meat offered to idols is not expedient. Now, they both have knowledge and I think we as fundamentalists have capitalized on the "knowledge" that we have and made rules out of it. Let me go on.

It is not wrong to play poker, or to smoke a cigar. Yes, it is lawful, and within my Christian rights, I may do that. However, it is often not expedient. [Is this the Galatians dilemma, liberty vs. license? We have liberty to do whatever (within the context here...we are not talking liberty to steal, etc.)] It is not expedient. That is, it does not further the Gospel as other things would do. It does not glorify Christ in the best manner possible. When we talk expedient or not, we are talking best or not. So, yes, old time fundamentalists took these things they were sure were the expedients and instead of teaching "Charity edifieth," they made and taught rules.

Why? Do we blame them? Not really. You can teach rules. You CAN'T teach charity. Charity comes from a relationship with Christ. Charity comes from spending TIME, lots and lots of time in the Word of God and talking to God.

Anecdotal experience. I've been working out regularly for a while now. I was convinced however, my first year at MBBC that I could hit 300 by Christmas of my second year. I took too many breaks to know if I actually could have or not, but now that I am regular at it, and have been for almost a year, I realize I was probably wrong. I am making progress. I can lift more than ever before; I look better; but I am not huge, nor can I bench 300 (that I know of).

Back to charity and a relationship. And then, the other thing I have been considering for a long time: being God's friend. Abraham was God's friend. God's friend. It wasn't that God was Abraham's friend. God is the friend to many. But how many are God's friend? Think about it. How do you become God's friend?

When I was told I could not talk to my wife (back before she was) I drove out to WI to explain to her dad that our relationship could not move forward without spending time together and communicating. The same applies to God and us. We need time and communication with Him. Well, I really shouldn't lecture about it. Especially since nothing can be done about it.

That is another thing. It was my turn to do faculty devos last week. I debated for some time what do to, but I ended up talking for just a couple minutes and then reading all of Psalms 9. The fact is, I am nothing, and my words are nothing; but I had God's Word, so I used that.

Nothing we say can do anything. The only thing that changes anything is the Word of God. This is why every chapel lecture, every devotional, every message, every Bible study, is worthless without Scripture. It does no good for me to lecture people on doing right, without including the words of Holy God. My words are not alive. My words are not transcendent. My words are not sharper than a two-edged sword. They do not discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. Only God's word does that. If we dare try to assume that our words will be ok; that our words can approximate what God's words do; that our words could in someway move the heart; we have then made ourselves God. That really is just what Satan did. . .people don't like it when I draw analogies like that.

Anyway, the music thing can probably fall into something like this. Maybe they had it right back before and the modern is all wrong, but knowledge puffeth up, and charity edifieth. Maybe, they have it right now; knowledge puffeth up and charity edifieth. Lastly, all things are lawful, but all things are not expedient.

On to something else about worship and being in awe of God. We aren't often in awe of God as we should be. Think about Isaiah. Ezekiel. Jesus in the garden. "Jesus saith unto them, I am he. . .As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground." With the brief glimpse of who Christ was, whatever He showed them at that time, they fell to the ground. When Isaiah beheld God's glory, he did not jump up and down and wave his hands, he fell to his face and said "Woe is me." The elders in Heaven do continually bow before the throne. Do we ever prostrate ourselves before Him? We have become too comfortable with a "god" that we do not need to stand in awe and fear of. God is referenced as the "fear of Isaac." Yes, we have lost Godly fear.

Then, lastly, what is worship? How do we define worship? Is worship reading the Bible? Is worship always corporate? Is worship praying? Can you read the Bible, and pray without it being worship? I mean actually talking to God and building a relationship, but not worshiping? Or is it worship? How would you define it? Something that my wife and I were discussing tonight.

Anyway, its late so I should go. We have found Bones an interesting show lately.

part 3. . .

2009-10-18T18:41:00.002-06:00

So, I have had a bit of interest in this topic. Obviously.

I made my conclusion and then the church we attended today had different music. Music different than I would hear up north. Different than what I hear in chapel. Different than all of that. It had a beat. It was not hugely obvious. They played canned music. But the beat was not the focal point. It was not wrong.

Then I started thinking, maybe it would be wrong in some churches. One song would have driven some people crazy. The piano played a nice offertory but it was backed with canned music that was different. The question that would be asked by many is, "Why add that to that beautiful song?" Does that make it wrong? To add that? I can't say it does. But, if that song was played up north, then the purpose would have driven many to question the purpose, and they would not have been driven to worship or glorify God. Does that mean that in the right setting it is "ok" and in others it isn't? Is the fact that we can't appreciate the music a problem on our part? Are we not eating meat that we could be eating?

On to other things. I'm a chicken. I sat at a table listening to people talking about stuff and said very little. I don't know how to interact with people. It isn't that I'm really chicken. It is more that I honestly am not sure when to start talking when someone else is. They sit there and say something and someone else says something and they say something again, and it goes back and forth and I just don't pipe up unless I have an obvious space. It bothers me. What is the difference between that setting and sitting in the basement arguing anything? I feel more comfortable to say what I want? Maybe.

It also bothers me that I seem to be dumbfounded when I hear some things. I am good at arguing the intricacies of our doctrines, but the bigger picture I'm finding myself just quiet. This guy at work argues things I would never have imagined hearing, and I find I'm unsure how to respond. It makes me feel slow. I hate that.

I read a verse the other day that seemed to fit very well with some conversations I have been having. A little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump. A little false doctrine or a few poor choices can ruin all the worship. Every false step in any systematic lends itself to a heretical doctrine down the road.

I've been reading Galatians a lot lately. I have been studying it as if I was going to preach through it. I figured I needed to study something Bible related in addition to just reading something Bible related. So, I've been spending time reading Galatians with that mind set. I hope to start writing on it soon. But one thing that keeps occuring to me as I read it is that Paul pronounces cursing on any that preaches any other Gospel. We want to ignore those things and go with them to conferences. We want to think that those Methodists, Lutherans, non-denominationalists, Catholics, etc, are just a little misinformed. Not cursed. Well, Paul says it twice, just in case someone thinks he might be exaggerating. Hes not. Then he says the leaven thing.

We fight with these two principles. We are to love the brethren. We are to strive for unity. We are to bear others' burdens. We are to separate ourselves from heresy. Doctrine is divisive. Because these things can be hard decisions, we must be close to the Lord. We must walk with God if we are to make the right decision in each instance.

If you are a Calvinist, say it. It just means you believe those 5 points. If you are a Baptist, say it. Don't hide behind bland labels. Biblicist. Non-denominational. What are these things? I don't get it. I want you to tell me what you believe. These labels tell me you are too chicken to name what you believe; OR, you really have no stance on some of this and you need to start reading your Bible and come to decisions on what it says.

I was talking to someone else this week and I mentioned that I love reading God's Word and studying it and he said, "You know that every believer should be able to say that?" He's right. Every believer should be able to say that. They should mean it with all of their hearts that they desire and long for God's Word and love spending time in it.

My wife cheers for the Steelers. I cheer for the Vikings. Next week they play. The Vikings are undefeated. Go them. Still don't like Favre though.

Stubbornness and ignorance and . . . rhyme?

2009-10-15T14:26:00.003-06:00

The young generation is ignorant of the why behind the rules.
We don't know. We weren't taught.
The rules were hammered in, and too often the "why" was left to rot.
And so we throw the rules out, we can't stand to have them, baseless as they are.
And we continue anew, finding our standards now are very few.
We forge ourselves a path hoping it is near the truth.
Our closest counselors, those others of our youth.

The old generation is too stubborn to admit they could be wrong.
When asked the reason "why", they wax long and long.
They tell us to be safe. They tell us it is worldly.
And yet when the principle has left, they still hold those standards strong.
Despite the nonsense they then preach, they still preach it as a jewel.
And when they have young folks to teach, they hammer in the rule.

The middle ground is hard to see, the observer can't be sure.
He hates to ask his friends of glee; he sees their nonsense sure.
He sighs to ask the elderly, he doesn't want a liturgy.
He seeks the Truth unabridged. He wants the principle and rule.
And so he talks to old and young, with the Bible as his tool.
He counts on the Holy Spirit to show him the truth.

Well, there is some more poor rhyme, but I think it kinda expresses my frustrations. Of course, I need the disclaimer that not every young person is like that and not every old person is either. I have heard elderly get sharply harsh because of something that the young person says when that person needs to be guided to the truth instead of force-fed it. At the same time, I have seen young people abandon what they had been taught because of one rule that did not have basis.

I hate to be Rehoboam. It scares me to be one of those "wise" kids that doesn't need to listen to the elderly and all they have. But then I hesitate because sometimes I don't get very Biblical or logical responses. It is more of practiced rhetoric. Both are scary. The young wise kids and the old ones who quote the same thing over and over.

Another poem I wrote at school today. You may not care for the content...I'm not sure what I think about all the content myself. But a lot of it I do. So, here it is for your pleasure or not. For those that read it already, I didn't mean to repeat that one section. . .I got distracted when copying it, so here it is as is should have been.

Out with the Old

The old fashioned is gone
In with the new
We don't need a tie
Or a suit in a pew

A worship team with a screen
We'll clap to the beat
We'll sway back and forth
When Holy God we meet

We'll critique His Word
It isn't quite right
Though we rest upon it
The end of our soul's plight

No more humble awed reverence
We need to fix church to win the lost
The past church had it all wrong
We will fix church whatever the cost.

What will bring that poor soul in?
Surely, not "thees" "thous" and preaching on sin.
No, not old fashioned hymns nor words.
They've lost their fire, their zeal, their "in."

God understands when we edit His plan.
We must be modern to win the modern man.

part 2

2009-10-11T18:04:00.003-06:00

More thoughts. And while they all tend one way, the conclusion tends the other.

We think "how sad" that hymns are considered in such low-esteem, and they think it is sad that these non-hymns are considered the same way by us. Is their culture truly wrong? Will we condemn many cultures? The big thing here, is that though they don't use hymns, they don't condemn them either. We do. We condemn everyone and anyone that is not like us. This is part of our fundamentalist nature. I understand being separate. But what are we being separate from? What is the "world"? Is it the Hispanic culture? We can't do that.

Yes, I understand that many chapels are not to be times of worship, but this man that I share an office with truly wants to worship God and encourage the kids to do so. Whether anyone else is, he is trying to worship.

I agree that hymns are sung with enthusiasm and that it ministers and edifies, but that also mimics our music preferences and that of those around us. Because the Hispanic culture, which is everywhere down here, is always more active and involved, our English old fashioned services may not in their minds provide ample opportunity to worship. This is what missionaries come back and tell us. They tell us that in adapting to the culture of the people things that are fine here are not there, and things that are not here are there. It is a part of the culture. America is not just English anymore, with the traditional services. Is God American? We know Hes not. Is this bad, to leave the traditional? I don't know. Of course we must be extremely careful when leaving, yet, it may be necessary to include other things. I'm not talking about a complete abandoning even on this narrow topic, but rather an inclusion of some other things.

We aren't Israel. We don't have the straightforward law to tell us how to worship. We have principles. Further, we aren't pulling from the Muslims, or Catholics, etc. This type of music I am speaking from is not a denominational difference as much as it is a cultural difference. Just being down south, I have heard things in independent fundamental baptist churches that I wouldn't hear up there. The social aspect of the south is integrated into the church. God doesn't say that in Jerusalem is the way we ought to worship. He says in spirit and in Truth. We have the southern aspect and then the cross-cultural aspect with the Hispanics.

Then we have the rock bands/culture. And here is the kicker for me. For some reason I wanted to hear/see the song again. So, I remembered the words to a song and a quick google search revealed several different youtube videos of the people who did the song singing it.

What I came up with is that I am far to ignorant about the other cultures, but after a tiny bit of discussion, I realized that what takes place in our chapel with these songs, is not cultural. It is something else. And, that something else I cannot agree with. Now, can I justify condemning it? Well...let's see.

The actions, atmosphere, and attitude (yes, three "a"s; good for me) of the people who "perform" these songs is not what we should be wanting or expecting. Rather, the actions are performance based. The atmosphere is that of the rock-and-roll world. This is an anti-christian world. If you wanted to argue that it is not "anti-" you still could not come to the solid conclusion that it is "pro-". If it is not strong Christianity, than we are conforming to the world, are we not? Are we to live apart from the world? We are not to be "of" the world. Is rock and roll of the world? I'm pretty sure. It is not of the church. It is not "of God." The attitude is not the attitude of solemn, holy, and reverent worship of almighty God. Rather, it is the attitude of a star.

Of course, there are obstacles.

Is all worship supposed to be done in solemnity? I think here, we must be extremely careful with the differences between joy and light-heartedness. The difference between celebrating God's greatness and forgetting God is holy and is only approached through Christ. In much of the music from chapel and the same type, even though the words may talk about God's holiness, that thought is not in mind during the song. We don't see evidence that the song is meant to actually consider God's holiness.

Can we say that Classical or Jazz or Country is "of God?" We would admit that music is "of God." Why is classical ok?

What is the reasoning behind the music appealing to the body over the soul? We know that different music does appeal differently. Do we find Scripture backing up the thought that one is wrong though? God knew that this music debate would come up. He knew that we would be discussing this. What parameters did he leave us with? Psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs. Singing and making *melody* in our hearts to the Lord. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Perhaps the emphasis could be on melody? If the beat outweighs the melody, then it should be avoided in the house of God?

Consider another fact. It is a fact that Godly people (generally the older generation) tend to have a problem with rock, rap, metal, etc. Why is this? Is it because they are old? Why is it that Christians who we would say are close to the Lord tend to shun those things?

I recently had a discussion with someone about the Bible issue. We were discussing the self-authentication characteristic and the comparison that I make is that the saints that look into the aspect and are not pushing away from the "rules" of the "old generation" tend to find this chapel music the wrong fit. I don't want to say "The more spiritual recognize that this is bad music." However, there is truth to the fact that those closer to God see their sin and those things that displease God much easier and clearer. Why should we be debating the music in our churches when we aren't doing our devotions regularly, or handing our tracts on a regular basis, or giving to the poor we drive by weekly, etc. Is our worship music really the big debate? I could say the same thing about all sorts of things we debate. Is it really worth discussing?

Well, YES! Let me clarify, that YES it is worth debating. The problem is, that we cannot often see clearly the issues on this stuff because we aren't even walking with God. It is like walking through the woods completely avoiding the path and then trying to argue with three other people in the woods about what to do about the tree in the way. The guy on the path sees that he can just step over it. The other guys think they need to chop it up, or go way around. (Bad analogy? Maybe.)

So, my conclusion as of now, is the same as it has been for years. That is basically that unless we have good and weighing reasons to abandon the standards and principles of our parents and grandparents and the saints before us, then we should instead uphold those. If in upholding those, we come to a place of oppressing the saints then it needs to be evaluated. For this discussion then, those genres that I listed several times should probably not be used in church, or to attempt worship. The logic, and reason behind this is not a simple verse, and bang you are done. Instead we have a long row of questions and complicated issues in order to try to arrive at a simple conclusion.

Compare this to the argument for wearing a suit to church. Why? Does the Bible say to? No. We say that we should wear our best into the house of God. People hear that and say "It doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter. God doesn't care about the clothes, but about our hearts." Yes, but we respond that it is not a rule. But for me, to enter the house of almighty, holy, God, I should shave, do my hair, and look my best. We do the same for any person of importance. We dress up for special occasions. Anyway, it is a matter of people with a heart attitude desiring to please God. We don't look down on people who don't wear a suit. We just try our best to do right and please God.

I got tons more to say, but blogging while I'm watching Numbers with my wife tends to take more time than I wanted to plan on blogging to begin with. Maybe later.

So much other stuff though...

I am tired of being where I am. I was in a meeting that made me think I wasn't sticking around much longer. Of course, the problem with the meeting was fixed soon after, but I hate being in that spot where it is so bad that that thought occurs to me. Of course, that is misunderstandings, and that is expected.

I talked to Joe. He's frustrated. He told me that we know that several of us all think that we should be doing something bigger, and since we all think that, maybe we should. It obviously isn't coincidence. It is preordained that we are where we are knowledge-wise, positionally, etc. We are all somewhere, and lots of us are wondering why we are where we are. We are wondering where we should go. We are wondering what to do. We don't know what to do, but we want to do more. Much more!! It drives me crazy. I want more than this. I don't know what it is I should do. I don't know what it is God wants for me. Yet, I feel the tug of discontentment. And I am content here. Grandma told me that God uses discontentment to get us to move. To prevent us from settling somewhere for longer than He wants. It was a good reminder.

Mike VK says we don't have time for degrees. He says we don't have time to teach the saints. He says our churches are too full of itching-ears and the wheat and the tares are too close that all we can do is preach. Indeed. I second that. But WHERE!?! I don't have a church. None of us do. What church would take us with our old-fashioned preaching, with our stand on God's sovereignty and man's wickedness, and our believe in the self-authenticating Scriptures? Are there people out there? I was asked that this weekend. I was asked if there are people left. We can't find them. I work at a "Christian" school, and I don't see a lot of Christ-likeness there. I see what I might see anywhere else. People are human. I am torn.

When we come to the end, will I stop going to church? Will I fear what man can do unto me? What will my daughter do? Will she be old enough to understand, or will it come too quickly? Do we have another 60 years where I might see my grandchildren? The state of the world, the country, and the church, and there is nothing worth saving. God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah for 10. 10! How many left does America have? Israel had thousands and yet the famine came. Israel had thousands and yet was rules by wicked leaders who cursed God. Israel was the chosen nation of God. We are heathen. lol, what are our chances? Will God spare America for 100? There have to be 100 true Christians, right? I mean, we should be able to count them if we really try. . .Can I count 100 Christians? I remember at a big family gathering -- don't remember which, but it was a big one -- we counted 80 people. 80. I wish that I could write with 100% certainty that they were all saved. In fact, I would say with most certainty, that apart from God's future working, we should assume some are not saved. That leaves us with -80. Start adding Christian friends from states far and wide, and you start to hope. You start to count families, and see another 5 there, and another 7 there. But, then you wonder -- can you really be sure about them all? Or just the ones you know? How many families seemed all saved and then one, two, or more abandoned the faith? 100. It doesn't seem like too much to ask for 100 souls that belong to Christ. What if we expand, maybe God would spare a state for 100, but the whole country? How about 100 families? 100 families dedicated to God. We know we aren't the only ones. If Elijah teaches us nothing else, it is that even when we feel alone, not only is God present, but God has a remnant. 100 families. Maybe. Maybe there are 100 families. Maybe they love God and will die for him. What about us? The questions isn't even so much do we love Christ? The question is, are we walking so close to Christ that when threatened with death and our families death we would not deny Him? The disciples failed. I don't know if we can do much better. How hard to turn from your family to die at the stake!

One of the saddest things I can ever remember reading was when a husband was going to the stake, his wife was crying and begging him to deny Christ. What could be worse for that man than to hear his wife abandon him during that time? Yes, it was sad and emotional, but when he did the right thing, one of the hardest things a man with a family could do, she begged him to sin.

Often, I have wondered if America would turn that way. I read some Nietzsche today. "Great Philosopher." lol. Supposedly, this stuff is can be so deep that it frustrated the faith of Christians. It was horrible stuff. It really was. But, this is what the world is reading regularly. This is why our scholars in seminary say that you can deny the virgin birth and go to Heaven. They say that God can die. Really. This is where America is. And I'm not talking about mainstream liberal democratic America. I'm talking about the theology of the scholars that teach almost every pastor standing in a pulpit. They are all wack. Currently, I am in direct opposition to degrees. I want nothing to do with them. Here, I see where Baptists went astray in the past. Baptists shunned the false teaching of higher learning. They found the heresy there to be more than they could bear and they exalted the unlearned minister. Ah, the fault there. Fault can be found everywhere.

I got off topic. 100 families. That's in America. Think of the rest of the world. I think that this is where I would hope to guess America is. I think from Elijah's point of view that I should be estimating way higher. From Abraham's point of view, I am too high. We see two individuals that estimated the number of saints. Both were off. And both had lessons to learn. Abraham arose and saw the smoke and PRAYED. Prayer still works. Prayer is what we need. And to remember that God is here. God is always here. But, what can we say/do? Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

"Even so come Lord Jesus. Amen."

long time ago in a state far far away. . .

2009-10-08T16:35:00.002-06:00

I blogged.

I have missed blogging. I have wanted to blog for some time. I have ideas and strands of thoughts throughout the day and yet I cannot remember them when I am home. Blogger is blocked at school for some odd reason, and so my "brilliant" ideas are just lost.

Music has been on my mind for some time. Chapel here is. . .different. We listen to and "sing" music that I grew up calling "bad music." Now, there was nothing morally wrong with it, and I understand that, but I also understand the principle of the music. At the same time, the guy who leads the music would probably find our type of hymns and traditional worship music lacking the energy and the excitement that he currently expresses and wants to express in worship. So, is he wrong? Can I say he is wrong? Back in the (I think I have my dates right here) late 1600's people first started singing in Baptist churches. That was not included in church services. Then, people began singing things that were not the psalms. Imagine the controversy! People writing songs and them being sung in the church. What now? We accept a piano and organ. That is all I grew up with in church. What about a orchestra? Sure, we accept that too. Well, at least some of us. What about a guitar? What makes a guitar different than other stringed instruments? What about drums? I remember church shopping and not even staying for the service because there were drums and the sanctuary was darkened. Maybe there were more reasons...I was young.

So, what music should be in church? Is music one of those things that is determined within a social context? The pronunciation of words and the use of hand/head gestures here and around the world do not mean the same nor have the same offense to each one. Music is different within different cultures. The man who leads the music here also teaches Spanish. He told his class that almost all Spanish music was the same. Dances just changed moves. That was in general, but think about the cultural difference. They always have an upbeat music, and their culture is energetic and more colorful than northern MI. Does this mean it is bad? /shrug What are we looking at to determine "bad" music? And now, when I say "bad" I mean morally wicked music? Is there a music line between home and worship? We listen to some mannheim steamroller, and snoopy jazz at home. Why don't we listen to that to truly good lyrics in church? Why is one right and another not? We (used loosely) we're brought up this way. We listened to different things at home and at church. We were told and taught that once the music in a church goes, so does the Bible and all forms of separation. I can sympathize. That is experiential truth. We have heard about and seen that happen. But is it because of what the music symbolized then? It was rebellious to hear or play rock. Is it still? Isn't the rebellious stuff rap and heavy metal? Or is rock still bad? Why was rock bad? Because of the inherent wickedness in the melodies? Or because of the rebellion that it represented?

What is safe? It is safer to not listen to rock, rap, etc? If it is only safer, then we should not be condemning others for listening to and utilizing it in worship. Are we naive enough to think that David really danced to no beat? That in the worship of God, it is not so much the beat as it is the heart? Of course, it has always been the heart. But does God condemn music with off beats? We aren't told that. We are told to make a joyful noise. Sing. Praise. Songs and Hymns. What defines a hymn? Does the inclusion of the word hymn negate or qualify the word song? I don't think so. What are we left with? Do we have warrant from Scripture to say that this other type of music is bad? What type of music is right? Where are the morals? Where is the chapter and verse?

Practicality. Some music is not meant to be sung by a group(congregational). The song is not written that way. Some songs aren't. We "sing" things in chapel that are really not congregational songs. We don't know where he is going with the song. It is a solo, or band number. That type of thing is not practical. Is it wrong to have that song as a special though? What about music preferences? Everyone has them. I dislike much of the music I hear on TV or radio. It annoys me and I can't stand it. I dislike the music played during chapel. It gets under my skin. It bothers me. It is not my preference. But hymns may not be others preferences. Must they conform? Culture makes a big difference in music taste.

Thoughts...but no conclusion, I apologize. I can't condemn it. I think in practicality that certain types of songs need to be avoided in congregational worship because they do not lend themselves to being sung together. But other than that, I have nothing at the moment.

Addendum

2009-08-26T16:52:00.000-06:00

After more contemplation, I realized that the faith factor of this discussion must be considered with further magnification. For while both sides of this discussion have access to a large battery of questions, and logical complications, both sides also require faith. It is at this point where this argument becomes simpler. Let us then examine these focal points.

Let us begin with the tradition of the Reformation and the Textus Receptus. Those who hold to the position of the TR believe that God has promised to preserve His word. We believe that without the Word of God we would be lost. We believe that God used the Reformation, the TR tradition, and people like Erasmus to compile the Greek text we have before us today (I only make mention of Erasmus because the other side is sure to, and we need to have an idea in our mind of the proper role he did and did not play). Here is the focal point we have come to see. We accept by faith that God used these men, this tradition, and the Spirit working in the revived church to preserve this Text, between two covers, without error. This was done without inspiring any of those working on the texts, or anyone who was translating.

Those along the CT side follow much the same formula. They believe that God has promised to preserve His word. They believe that without this Word, we cannot be saved. They will admit that God worked in and through the Reformation, the TR tradition, and people like Erasmus. (Most, if not all, do call the TR a corrupt text though.) This side believes that the TR is not perfect. They believe God has kept His promise by preserving for us all His words spread throughout all the MSS. With this form of preservation, God’s word is not and cannot be between two covers. Instead it is found in all the MSS. Since it is found in all the MSS, then in order to know which words are God’s words in Greek, the CT person must trust that the translation committees of today will find God’s words for them. This is their point of faith.

The foremost factor here is faith. Do you trust that God worked in the Reformation and TR tradition to give us His complete Word between two covers? Or, do you believe that God preserved His word for us in all the MSS and that He uses dozens of different translation committees to show it to us? Obviously, we have a point of faith in each argument. Which is more believable? Which conforms to the Scriptural definition of preservation? That is the key.

Remember, everything must be tested with Scripture. The passages mentioned previously leave no room for doubting that the church will have the complete Scripture. Not spread throughout the world, but always in its possession. Further, the Great Commission requires that we teach all nations. This requires that we be able to consistently and faithfully translate this Greek text into languages spoken by the common people. Notice however, that in order to be able to translate with any certainty the words of God, that one must in fact have those words before him. If those words are spread far and wide, no person can truly undertake the necessary job of translating into the common tongue. We are then stuck waiting on the words from the scholars who cannot agree amongst themselves.

If we accept by faith that God worked in the TR tradition and the reformation to bring together His perfect word, then we do not have a problem understanding and accepting that some words in our Greek text have their support in the Latin. We don’t have a problem understanding that words that have miniscule support are given by inspiration of God. Just as the unregenerate looks at Scripture and says, “It isn’t possible that the church really found all the right books. You don’t even claim inspiration for them!” So, the textual critic of today looks at the TR and says, “It isn’t possible that the Reformers /TR tradition /Holy-Spirit-lead-church really found all the words God intended.”

Yes!! It is possible! The literal exegesis of the Scriptures requires it! We accept it by faith that God has kept His promises!

Addendum 2.

Note that the method and argumentation for the determination of the canon is virtually the same as the method and argumentation for the authority of the TR tradition. The canon was brought together to conform to that which God had already determined by the early church. This is a fact accepted by both sides, and often argued by both together against the unregenerate. This is the history of the formulation of the canon. As discussed briefly before, the canon was not simply given to the church as the canon, but holy men of God by the Spirit of God were lead to reject the false books, and accept those that God had truly spoken. These men were not inspired, nor were they perfect. But as men of God desiring to follow truth, they were lead by God to that truth; we now have the canon of the 27 NT books today. Then after the dark ages, God used the Reformers to reawaken His people and caused them to pursue and compile the TR tradition.

Addendum 3.

It is worth mentioning that there is a difference between the arguments of scholars/theologians and the common layperson. Not to differentiate at all in matters of importance, or intelligence, but rather, we should understand that these groups argue the same topic at different layers. In order to understand when/where they interact it becomes necessary to recognize them. This is not something that I will endeavor to do here. But the level of this discussion in most churches rarely reaches the depth of our discussion.

Addendum 4.

I have endeavored to define the above positions as those whose views align with the most conservative, and exegetically sound. Both sides have authors and proponents that are not consistent, and misrepresent Scripture. I have attempted to not represent either side by those in the outer fringe.

complicated stuff

2009-08-22T09:35:00.002-06:00

So, just like theologians struggle with the order of regeneration: Faith, justification, sanctification, imputation, regeneration. What is the order, and can we determine that one must precede another, etc. Hard questions debated for a long time.

The hard question that occurs to me this morning further surrounds the Bible issue which has been foremost in my thoughts lately. The aspect of faith in this issue is necessary. The "majority" opinion is not built on a flimsy case. It isn't at its roots, horrible. We see the destruction that has been caused by veering from the straight and narrow just a bit in defense of the faith. (Recall that the majority of the straying that has affected the church was done by Christians fighting for the Bible.)

But, our hard question boils down to a matter of faith. Why do we defend the Scriptures against the lost who ask how it could possibly be God's Word? How do we defend against those unregenerate scholars that ask how we can be sure we have the complete canon? We do not assign inspiration or infallibility to those men and churches that came to the conclusion that God had written Hebrews and not the Gospel of Thomas. In the same way that the lost look at this and say that we are arguing for the Scriptures based on faith in the Scriptures and it is circular, we are susceptible to the same argumentation when arguing the KJV. They say "You are saying Erasmus was inspired; and the KJV translators." No, we accept by faith the promises God made to us, and so that when Erasmus continued the tradition of the church which lead to the KJV we see the hand of God in keeping His promise.

Reading the opposing side, however, without the proper background can be very convincing. I did some reading last night, and the guy was pretty good. He wasn't saying anything anti-Scriptural. They usually don't. He admitted we need preservation; and said we had it. This is the toughest crowd to beat. The guys who are closet to us, yet arrive at different conclusions.

The crux of the whole matter comes back to our interpretation of Scripture, and our need for certainty. What does it mean to say we have the words of God, and not just the ideas conveyed into some words? "To admit error in one part is to admit error in the whole." -- Turretin (paraphrase) This is really our trumpet. A logical fallacy committed by the other side. But that can be scary. Because logic is NOT the final authority when it comes to things of faith.

Can we admit we do not have the each specific word in English? Can we admit we do not have each specific word in Greek? Many prefer not to have thoughts of the original languages, but they must be considered.

I'm going to lay out some of their argument for a bit...I'll let you know when I am done with them.

***
God says He will preserve His Word.
History shows the MSS being changed and copied, and errors abounding.
Yet, through Providence, today we still have spread throughout all the MSS the perfect Word of God.
We can't know exactly which words are Gods, but it doesn't matter because of all the MSS, the differences are so few and so minuscule that in the end we DO still know what God was saying.
Nothing was lost.
Nothing of importance is under question. It is just differences of opinions on a fraction of the MSS.
***

I'm done with them...this is spawning another idea for an essay. Two options: the option of men deciding the truth, or trusting that we have it.

You see, the above argumentation leaves us with a whole pile of MSS evidence and the fact that somewhere inside it consists everything God has/had for us. This means we must rely on a committee of translators to decide where it is, and which words fit and which don't. It comes down to faith, again. They must have faith that the translators on their committees can find God's words, and share them with everyone else. We believe that God used the tradition of the TR/reformation, to leave us with God's words. If I can find a good way to write it up, and recall enough information about it, then maybe I will write it as a solid paper. Maybe it won't be long though. Maybe 1 page will be enough. It would be a good addendum.

That is my next project...because, as much reading as anyone can do on the subject, and as much disagreement as can be found, it seems that it MUST come down to one of the above options. Both of which leave the other saying "You are acting like the Catholic church." One can only be right, however.

I will of course follow up with that here when it is done.

because I lack imagination

2009-08-21T18:20:00.002-06:00

You have probably noticed that my title skills are severely lacking. Notice also the link of the blog: unintriguing. Yeah.

Disclaimer from my last blog: I was informed, and I already knew that NOT everyone in our family holds to the previously mentioned view of the Bible issue. Perhaps I had forgotten last night, or perhaps I felt it easier to neglect the small minority for my purposes. (I hate saying that...it feels like I've been saying it a lot lating "my purposes." bleah.) But to be accurate, not everyone in our family does believe it. For whatever reason.

I have a lot on my mind again. I hope that I will be able to recall it all. As I worked out tonight I wasn't able to keep my counting going between sets because I was writing in my head. Of course, I lose it that way...that's why I need to write it down.

First, I have mentioned on more than one occasion (probably so much so that you guys are tired of it) how this is my online journal. Well, I have been rethinking that. I love writing about stuff. I also have been having the urge to enlarge my sphere. There is nothing that says this has to be my journal except me. Many of the other people that blog don't necessarily use theirs this way. So, something I am considering.

Another thought along these lines is to make another blog where I can write the things that I feel like writing. The problem is, that in my past I rarely write just something essayish. Instead, I write essay stuff mixed in with my life stuff. To upkeep two blogs is more than I want. At the same time, I would need to drop off all my stuff on eating tuna three times a day, etc. You guys will miss out on a lot. /rolleyes

Something else. Using my blog to vent/journal keep can lead me into excusing sin. It is easy for me to get angry, to gossip, and to just say I am clearing my head. I am not sure, but I think my last blog may have been wrong. Not all of it of course, but there may have been things that should not have been said. Perhaps not, but I need to be really careful and I need to not excuse myself because of my blog.

And as I was afraid of, I have lost most of anything else I wanted to blog about. There was quite a bit too. . .

Also, as my sphere increases a bit, I find that I must already keep more in. Things that I might say to most all of you in person, or hope you eventually find out, the sparse few I am unsure about prevent me from divulging. Not to say to any of you that I regret that you are here or reading. Just a fact.

The pastor called me back. We can't meet tomorrow, but he said that we can meet sometime after a church service or perhaps another Saturday if I really wanted. Maybe after a church service will have to do.

I'm in the MPR (multi-purpose room) instead of the library at school. Unfortunately, I don't have internet access there, and so I can't get on and enter grades and that is a big problem for me. I often did grading and lesson plans in the library. Now we are three days into the year and I am behind. I have lots of grading and it isn't all done. Even the stuff that is done is not in the computer because of the bad setup. I need to make sure I am disciplined. I hate working on the weekends, but if I can work hard this weekend I can be setup to not have to worry about this type of thing again this year (I figure).

Psych is on now. Good night. Sorry it wasn't as great a blog as it shoulda been.

always stuff

2009-08-20T18:31:00.004-06:00

Lots to blog about. Let's get started.

I have been getting up early and so going to bed early.

So, there was a huge mess made by about 16 people who painted themselves blue and gold, and had to wash up, but they left the locker room in disarray. Well, I see Mrs. Coney getting the mop bucket out. This bothers me. First, a middle aged lady should not be mopping, and second she is the principal. She should NOT be doing that. So, I walk over, because I'm going to do the mopping. So, she tells me where she is going, and I start following her. Stupid me, I never think I should push the mop bucket as we walk over and through the gym. Well, Matt shows up and (thankfully) takes the mop and bucket from her, so she doesn't have to do that. Makes me feel like a moron though. This is like the second time in two weeks where I have offered and wanted to help and miss the most obvious. My wife suggests that I am too self-centered and I get focused on one thing and just overlook the obvious. It drives me crazy. It shouldn't have taken someone else for me to realize I should have taken the mop. I recognize that help is needed, but I'm so....frustrated with myself. It just makes me feel awful. =/ Something I need to work on. (I did end up mopping though...something to make me not feel wasted.)

I want to clarify that I mean no offense to anyone in the following. I am not looking down on anyone. These are thoughts and things that I have been having problems with lately.

I posted my TR/KJV post on Facebook and tagged a bunch of people because I figured it would be good for people to read. Anyway, this has started a bit of a dilemma for me. Due to my own error, I neglected to think through the facebook restrictions and my page is mostly open, and so people that I didn't know were able to read it. One such person who is anti-KJV and has been "rescued from the cult" saw fit to post multiple times. Now the point of my post was to inform those who might know some of the issue, or who have forgotten, or maybe never knew to begin with. It was not full of quotes and citations, and yet I think those who I knew and tagged would know that it wasn't just me spouting, but that I was just shortening for the sake of clarity and conciseness. I thought I made it clear. I posted just what I posted here. Maybe it was only clear in my mind, but alas.

Well, I offer this person at first politely to choose a different place to debate this. He refuses and repeats almost the exact thing. After some more back and forth I'm finding him rude and I'm frustrated (whether I should be or not, I have not yet decided as I rethink things). So, I realize what my initial error was and restrict access. He contacts me privately and we begin a brief discussion regarding our conduct, rather than on the issue.

At this time I get a reproof in an email regarding how I handled the situation. Some of it was very applicable. And I wonder if I did overreact. At the same time, I also think that my purpose should be taken into account. Regarding all of this, I am thinking it may be best for me to reopen access to my note, and allow and resume the debate there. I have not yet decided on this.

Now, on to the next part. How does someone more knowledgeable instruct others? As much as we are proud of the knowledge in our family it isn't that great.

Note: I have blogged previously about hearing people I respected saying things plain false, and quite illogical because they didn't appear to know what to say to that part of the opposition. I couldn't believe it. They didn't have an answer and so they said the opposing side made it up. It was fact and history. It really doesn't even add much opposition, they just thought it did.

The point is that we as individuals know far far less than we know as a group. We look at our group knowledge and feel great about it. Perhaps not, and perhaps I have a misshapen view of these things. There are lots of people in our family that would have a hard time proving something or arguing for/against something that they know we/they hold dogmatically. They aren't experienced enough; they haven't taken the time to learn it; they haven't been taught that issue specifically. What is the role of someone who knows those things?

I don't know near as much as Uncle Pete, or even younger generation Peter on the Bible issue. I also don't know if there is anyone else in the family who knows that much; I would also venture to guess (and I don't do this proudly) that I really don't know anyone else who knows the topic like I do after those two.

Note: There are too many things in the Scriptures to know them all. Even if you study one topic for your whole 3 score and 10, you will know all there is to know about that topic. My point is that we have much we can gain from one another. I would love to, and do immensely enjoy when its possible, delve the depths of knowledge/wisdom contained in each one in our family. I went up north for a graduation and spoke with a cousin briefly. I purposed to listen to what he would say, because I see him rarely and I wanted to gain wisdom from him. I didn't recognize it when it came out of his mouth, but within a few weeks I did. It made me happy. It was wise. Wisdom does not mean it must be profound; too often we skip over it, in my opinion.

Continuing, I know things you don't, and you know things I don't. Perhaps we don't all crave that knowledge the same way. But, we all must believe the truth. So here is the dilemma. We are going to use the Bible issue as our example. Everyone in our family believes it. But I wonder how many people really know why. And, in the end, even the ones that have more of a foundation than others, are basing much of it off 1. the Scripture they know, and 2. someone they trust. We all listen to someone we trust, and intuitively compare it to the Scripture we know. If it fits, than we keep it.

NOTE: Here my computer crashed and I lost stuff.

So, using the Bible issue as our example, we all believe this stuff. I doubt few have solid reasoning behind it besides, it is what the entire family believes. It isn't possible for everyone to know all the reasons. It isn't. It isn't required in Scripture either. But, it seems that in some ways, those that know more should be and are responsible for instructing those that are not. Does this just apply to parents and their kids? I don't think so. My paper was not forced upon anyone. They could skip it if they wanted. I just wanted to help if I could. But the reproof I received ignored this problem of ignorance. The people who don't know all the quotes and technical intricacies don't need to. They will not be writing books, or facing PhDs. What is the harm in writing what I wrote?

Now, the problem is that it was open for anyone. And it is true, that if I put something on the internet I should expect both positive and negative feedback AND be willing to discuss it. My problem was that I am/was willing to discuss it, but I just didn't want to on my wall. Was that not appropriate?

Note: I am eating a cold can of salmon mixed with cold white rice. Not the best. . .but, I may also eat some Mac and Cheese when my wife is done making it. heheheh.

We that don't know things, need others to tell us. Not to cram it down our throats; not to force it upon us; but to be willing and offer to help. It is a failure when those that do know things abandon those that do not because they see them as "ignorant" and "uninformed." Because they don't have the time they are viewed as lazy. When they try to convey what they do know, the more learned immediately take the other side, because they want to point out how insufficient and weak the knowledge of the other is. AUGHS! This drives me insane. Those that don't have the time/knowledge aren't trying to debate. They want to learn. Those attempting to do the teaching aren't claiming omniscience. They are just trying to help. So, don't jump in and pick apart these arguments and try to point out all the flaws. That is counter-productive. There is a time and place to pick apart, and help people realize their weaknesses. But if you can't recognize when that is, you best keep your mouth shut, because more often than not people just want to learn and be treated as real people with some respect.

I honestly don't claim omniscience. I learn something all the time. I am bothered by how much sin and foolishness that I find in my life. I didn't mean to insult anyone by trying to analyze people's knowledge, and estimating. I could be far off on all of it. I often do speak in fact. I am trying to temper my bluntness when it is negative, but as Matt said last time I did that "you mean, he is wrong?" And yeah, he is/was. Anyway, there is my blog.

I do always appreciate your thoughts.

Congratulations to my brother and his wife!! Great news; I was so happy to hear it!

My wife is the best. She is amazing, patient, and kind. I couldn't/wouldn't be who I am without her. Thanks darling, love you!

2009

2009-08-18T19:36:00.002-06:00

So, it is 2009 and I have already out blogged 2008, but I blogged over 100 times in 2007. I don't know if I can beat that. I'm not on track to do so. I am nearing 30, but it is nearing the end of August. It doesn't help that I can't blog during After School Care. That would be my traditional blogging time. I thrive on getting paid to blog.

Life is life. There is not much else to say. FB/Twitter do not hold enough space in their little updates to convey what I feel. Can a blog do better? Perhaps, after much rambling.

I have been pretty cynical and perfectionist lately. Not about a lot of stuff that has no real set standard, but about stuff that does have meaning...and that mostly boils down to grammar and words. Try this one: "I enjoy Sundays after church." Yeah, but that just makes me wonder if you don't like church. "Can you guess . . . ?" Yes, or no, and since most of us are capable, then yes. Don't guess; we weren't asked to do that.

Spelling mistakes everyone makes...but they shouldn't; seems more so when they are the head of the English department and giving a handout to the entire upper school, but again, it happens. I don't teach English, so I shouldn't criticize. Too late I guess.

Truth project might get moved to a Thursday. Don't hold your breath, but it might. For those who were unaware, the Truth Project was scheduled 3:30 on Mondays. That conflicted with my After School Care. The one in January was scheduled for Wednesdays. Yeah, I still go to church on Wednesday. Apparently Idlewild has done something with their Wednesday services that meant the school could do this.

(I will forgo the note about "Idle" "wild" tonight...I need to get to bed soon. Yes, I understand the history, but still, it could warrant a note if I had the time.)

So, there were jokes about me losing my job next year since I won't be going to either of those. My principle made it clear today that it didn't matter how long you had been saved, or how smart you were, you were expected to go. I asked someone that was currently going how it was and he said "simple." He said that the discussion afterward was pretty good. But what that means I think I have discussed enough before. Besides, people tend to be abrasive to the person that acts like he is right, and knows he is right. It generally doesn't make any difference if he really is or not, they just go to auto-oppose. Just because I know I'm right doesn't make me less right. . .and I don't want to do this thing. Of course, she knew I was going to sign up and its on Wednesday anyway and I spoke to her about it, so if it doesn't change then next year she will really really encourage me to do it. /grin

"On purpose" AND "By accident" NOT "By purpose" AND NOT "On accident"

"Raise animals" AND "Bring up children" DO NOT "Raise children."

Technically, this means you can "raise 'kids.'" But really, that just gets messy.

I suppose that there are others, that I commit regularly. I apologize. Let me know, too. I find that I am comma happy sometimes. And I use ellipses far too often. But that is my conversational style of writing -- meh.

Have I gone through all those before? Probably.

School starts in the morning. I'm scared and nervous. I am still missing a book, and I don't have a computer. On top of it all, I have extra responsibilities that are new to me that will leech my time. Yet, here is where God put me, and I better to what I do with all my might.

My wife was a big help with decorating my room. My sister-in-law helped too. Thanks so much!

No news from MBBC. How am I supposed to finish my MA this way?

Time to go. Goodnight.

more and more

2009-08-16T19:28:00.004-06:00

Well, when I blogged this afternoon it wasn't long since I needed a nap. But here I go again. Back to work tomorrow. Different after being off for so long.

I love writing about things that matter. I love having the time and resources to research those things, and convey them to others. I wonder if I love it so much because I don't have an unlimited amount of either time or resources. When I had time off work this summer I was on vacation and around places, and didn't have access to lots of resources. Anyway, the thought there is that perhaps I would become tired and exhausted from doing it if it is all I did.

What type of occupation would I find enjoyable all the time? I don't think it is teaching. As I prep for this year, I don't think I am made to be a teacher. What that means for me and my family I don't know.

Side note: Are you familiar with the feeling of disgust at the sound of someones voice? You hear it and you just start to feel all the feelings you associate with it? Even if none of those should logically be present at the moment. It just drives me crazy.

I like to write. I greatly enjoyed writing up my last long blog. I enjoy spending time thinking through those things. There is comfort for me in having things completely settled in my own mind and not having to depend on someone else. I have seen empty headed-people soak up like a sponge whatever they heard. I don't want to be like that. I'm not like that. But in its place I questions what I hear. I need to have a deep-seeded trust in that person but what they say must also be grounded in the principles I already know to be true.

I like to know how things work together. When I was reading my Apologetics book, he mentioned that in his first edition he thought every Christian should read a book like that. Whatever edition I had he mentioned that this is not the case. He wrote of two different sets of people: one basically was the one that had a hard time believing anything that could not be proved, so for example, why should we believe the Bible? We need to prove its necessity and validity without using it before we can rely on it. My real life example is concerning the Bible issue. I know people who don't really have a firm grasp on the subject and yet cling to it even arguing against those that are have a better grasp. These don't have the time or resources to actually study the issue and so they go on what they have heard from those they trust. The other group is the group that needs to have every nuance explained to them and examined before they accept anything.

I tend to believe that I am of the second group. I like to have things researched out and examined. I think that I need to make sure I utilize myself wisely this year. I have a lot I would like to accomplish, and potential I see in myself. I don't know what God has for me. I don't. I wish I did. I wish I knew that if I make it through the next 1, 2, 3, or even 5-10 years that I would achieve my goal. But, no, there is no guarantee. The guarantee is that God will provide for me and mine. He will work everything out for our good. There is no occupational guarantee. There is no guarantee of blessings in a job that I will enjoy for the rest of my life.

There is none of that. Calvin hated Geneva. He said he wished himself dead 100 times a day, yet he would not leave because that is what God had for him. Yet, the things he did enjoy, he did while there. He wrote tons and tons. His Institutes achieved their final form while there. He wrote several commentaries, and wrote to several kings, queens, and other royalty. He was brilliant. I am not Calvin however. However much I desire such a mind; I am thankful for what I have.

I am thankful for my wife. Through all these thoughts and struggles within me she has been a great support. She is willing to follow me what/where-ever God will send us. She has always encouraged me, and I love her dearly.

Then I have been thinking about my church situation which I blogged about briefly earlier. We heard 18 stanzas of something again tonight. So much stuff wrong here, and yet some stuff right, and it seems like God has lead us here in some way. Yet, I don't know. I can't know. . . . . . . . . . . .AUGHAUAHUGAUHAHUGA! /sigh. Ok. So I finally became facebook friends with some of the people at the church. My profile states that I'm a Calvinist. So, there it is. My sphere of influence has been enlarged by me becoming acquainted with the people here at the church, yet, now I have more opportunity to be shunned and viewed as a heretic.

I have heard that it is very possible that an Armenian pastor will not even let me be an usher, nor serve in the church in any way. That would stink.

I thought about starting my own church again. My wife vetod that idea. Which makes sense since I am working 11 hour days and she is pregnant. When would I canvass? When would I prep messages? Where would we hold church? What would I do for music? Yet, the idea is there again.

I have been thinking about writing a commentary this semester. Depending on how classes go and what I can take and how much work it involves I may try to get one done. I think I can do it. With lots of work it should be solid. I need a good book to do. I was thinking Galatians for various reasons.

Anyway, it is time for me to go to bed now. Goodnight.

update

2009-08-16T12:22:00.003-06:00

School starts Wednesday.

I saw District 9 last night with Matt. It was good. Tons of swearing though. I talked to Kaylynn afterward and decided that we need to get a clearplay. I have mentioned them before, but it just makes things so much easier, especially considering the fact that we are going to be parents soon. Oh yeah, if any of you read this, but don't keep in touch any other way, we are expecting! =D

I am in a huge dilemma with church again. I understand the need to join myself to a local church. It has been weighing on me for some time. We look and look. We have been to several and thought we had the one a few times. Now we are traveling 40-45 minutes to church where he is Armenian, has an erroneous view of Baptist history, believes very very strongly on the dichotomy or trichotomy of humans (I don't remember which), tends to talk down about Protestants, and doesn't believe in the universal church. Some of these things are very minor, except that the pastor feels the need to hammer everything that may be controversial and so we get a 10 min shpeel on it. We were really thinking of joining. We were going to by now. I think I should sit down and talk to him about some of these things...because I don't want to join if he won't let me serve in any way. I want to preach/teach, and at the very least I want to usher. . .oh well.

I need to take a nap now.

TR/KJV argument. . .as clearly as I have ever done

2009-08-10T19:19:00.007-06:00

I had recently been having some conversations with some people and one of them resulted in me volunteering to write some information up on the TR/KJV issue, and they affirming they would read it. So today I sat and wrote for several hours. My goal was to try to summarize the necessary points of our argument as much as possible. I did not dive into every little detail, nor did I quote. As it stands it is a summary. Forgive the length, this one is almost 8 pages.

This is quite a task I am attempting to undertake here. To summarize this position may be able to be done, but often the main points make little sense without the background. Sometimes this background is simple, and sometimes it covers all of church history. I will try to keep the main points obvious, while only including the necessary information. There will of course be much remaining, that may need to be covered if you have questions, or if you are aware of certain arguments raised against the position. Please do not hesitate to ask anything. I should add that I do have references and quotes for almost everything here. It would have extended this by several pages. If you are curious about quotes on something in particular please let me know. I do not at this time have a simple compilation of all quotes, so I cannot simply add that. Perhaps I will one day.

So, the end argument is that the KJB is the Word of God for English speaking people. By saying this we are saying that we have in our possession the perfect inspired transcendent Word of God. Those who disagree do not think it is possible to have the perfect inspired Word (though they may not admit that).

This is where the problem comes. If we do not have God’s Word, then we are of all men most miserable. We must have the Word of God, or everything we do is in vain. If we don’t we should eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. This is the argument for certainty. There are hosts of quotes to say that certainty is not something new to the church, but that the church has always required certainty. It seems logical and reasonable to me that we must have certainty without citing any of the quotes. If we admit there may be error in part of the Scripture, than we cannot be 100% sure that there is not error elsewhere. So, we must have certainty. Again, the other side disagrees. Recognizing the need for certainty is our first step.

The second step is to correctly understand God’s Word. What we mean by this is the many verses pertaining to preservation. No matter what we ever talk about or argue, we must always start with proper exegesis of the Scripture. This is the second step. Here is one of the most difficult parts. It is like arguing with an Arminian about Calvinism and referencing foreknowledge. No matter how right you are on the proper definition they always say it means something else. The Scriptures that we use to support preservation have for a 100 years been twisted so that anyone even slightly anti-KJV will say “That just means – .“ Here is a list of Scripture: 2 Tim. 3:16; Ps. 12:6, 7; 19:8, 9; Heb. 6:18; Matt. 5:18; 1 Peter 1:25; John 17:17. Without going through each verse what you need to know is that we have to interpret these verses understanding that they were written to the people of that day and those people would have expected the words to mean what they say. These verses point to always having God’s inspired inerrant Word here among the church, i.e. preservation. That these verses support the preservation of the perfect Word of God has been the position held for centuries down through the church.

The third step is arguing for the TR. Our argument is not based in the KJV. Our argument goes back centuries, and then the only logical conclusion is the KJV. We can’t start with it; we end with it. Where do we go next then? In order to understand what we must now argue, we must understand the other possibilities. When we argue for certainty, the other possibility is uncertainty. When we argue for the Textus Receptus (TR), the other possibilities are what we call the critical text and the majority text. We must further understand where these come from.

Brief History.

Previous to Christ, around the 3^rd-1^st centuries, the Hebrew OT was translated into Greek. It is said that it was done by 70 men, and thus the Septuagint is abbreviated the LXX.

Recall that when the epistles, gospels, etc. were written they were not instantly in every church. They had to be passed from church to church and copied from page to page as the parchment began to wear thin, and as more churches and individuals wanted their own copies. Copies happened. People made copies of copies. The canon (the 27 books of the NT) was not closed, and people were unsure what was Scripture and what was not. (This is a different history lesson entirely.) However, by 397 AD, the canon was closed. God had lead in the church to ensure that the apocryphal books were rejected, along with other similar titles, and God had also made certain that the 27 books were settled. While the Scriptures were now together, they still continued to be copied. Somewhere around the 5^th century, Rome commissioned the Latin Vulgate (Also known as Jerome’s Vulgate). This was to be the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) for the next thousand years and the reformers wrote many things against it.

The copies remained however in libraries. It was very rare to find entire copies of the Scriptures, but rather pieces and fragments were found of different books, verses, and passages (called Papyri, Uncials, and Minuscules).

As early as 640 AD people were attempting to translate parts of the Scriptures into English. The first well-known complete translation was in the 14^th century by John Wycliffe. Wycliffe’s bible appeared in two editions. Tyndale’s translation in the 16^th century differed from Wycliffe in that he used the Hebrew and Greek texts, and used the Latin to help. In all likelihood, he also probably used/referred to Wycliffe’s translation as well. This could probably be assumed for most translators during this time. After the Tyndale 1526 came the “Coverdale” 1535, the “Matthews” 1537, the “Great” 1539, the “Geneva” (first divided into verses) 1560, the “Bishop’s” 1568, and the “King James” 1611. These translations continued to follow much the same MSS as the previous. Unlike today where each version sits on the shelf next to each other, the previous was removed as the latter was accepted by the church as the authentic Word of God.

We must also understand that this is the same period that ends the dark age. This is the time frame which hosted great men like Luther, Zwingli, Huss, and Calvin. Luther posted his 95 theses in 1517. As the Reformation swept over all Europe, the need and desire for the Scriptures in the common tongue was understood and catered too. Thus we have these translations moving from the false piety of the Catholic church and back to the Greek texts for their translation into the English language.

It was during this time of translations that MSS were being collected and catalogued for the purpose of assembling a complete Greek text. This was not an easy process. Communication was immensely limited, and safe transportation of these MSS was neither quick nor easy.

Erasmus was one such person attempting to collate a Greek text. Erasmus was a Catholic who believed in reforming the church from within and so he never left. He was a scholar and was well learned. He mastered both Latin and Greek and was determined to provide a new Latin translation. When he published it however, it included the Greek translation alongside his Latin work. When Erasmus was missing pieces of either Greek or Latin from his sources, he would go to the other to find the pieces in that language and transfer them over. Thus, his two languages published together were in agreement, and though written in Greek and Latin their respective basis was not pure Greek nor pure Latin. It was his second edition that Martin Luther used to translate the Scriptures into German. It was his third edition that Tyndale used to translate into English. The 3^rd edition was also the basis of another Greek Text: the 1550 Robert Stephanus edition. This was the text used by the Geneva and King James Bibles. It is Erasmus’ last edition that is often referred to as the TR.

Theodore Beza, who studied under Calvin and assumed his role in Geneva when Calvin passed away also published a Greek text in 1565. This text was also indebted to Erasmus’ editions. After this time period, it was not until the 1880’s that another prominent Greek text appeared. Several continued to gather MSS and translate, but nothing prominent was published until after the Enlightenment.

The extant (=known existing) MSS are categorized based on their family type. Today we see three main family types: the Byzantine, the Alexandrian, and the Western. We hear the most regarding the first two. In brief, the Byzantine family contains those texts found within the byzantine empire. The text-type and location where they were found groups them together. It is the same for the Alexandrian family: they contain the Alexandrian text-type and were generally found near Alexandria. The majority of all extant MSS are from the Byzantine family. There are around 5000+ pieces from this family. These could be anything from a phrase to entire books, or multiple books. These are often dated from the 5^th to the 12^th centuries.

The Alexandrian family is considerable smaller. The force behind the Alexandrian family is that the 2 main MSS both supposedly date to around 400 BC, and they contain very full texts, rather than pieces. The early dating of these MSS causes some to place much more emphasis on them than on the majority. Among these are the texts found in a monastery in a burn-barrel. There is debate over their value. One side claims that they are extremely valuable, and the other says they were in the burn-barrel for a reason. The discussion further breaks down in that the one who found them (Constantin von Tischendorf) originally claimed they were in the trash. This may have been because they were worthless or he was lying to excuse his sudden possession of them. Or they were not in the trash at all, as his son later claimed in his father’s biography. Tischendorf himself is reported as saying that the MSS. contained 15,000 changes made by contemporary or later hands. This should discredit it from having any true significance.

I present this history not for your memorization but rather for your understanding. These things need to be somewhat familiar to your mind as we continue our argument. I previously mentioned three text options when choosing a Greek text: the TR, the majority text, and the critical text (CT). The TR is that tradition that ended with the Greek text of Erasmus/Stephanus/Beza and the English text of the King James Bible. It should be mentioned that this text did not arise from pure Greek MSS support, but also some Latin. It contains readings that do not appear to be well supported. It is from this Greek Text tradition that the KJB is translated. The KJB is the only Bible today translated from this Greek Text.

The majority text is held by a minority who think that both other sides have valid points. Instead of accepting the few readings in the TR that are less obvious, or have Latin support, they opt for a text that is completely among the Byzantine family. This “text” however does not exist. Two men, Hodges and Farstad, attempted to compile a majority text. However, the MSS they worked with to complete this text came mostly from one individual. Further, this portion they used was only a small portion of the Byzantine family, and they only cited a small portion of what they had access too. Their Greek text was published with the admission that it was incomplete and not a true majority. It was compiled from a fraction of a fraction of all extant Byzantine MSS. Farstad was on the committee translating the NKJV and he was impacted by his previous work. The NKJV is the closest thing to a modern version translated from this supposed Majority text. This position is generally thought to be “safe.” It avoids many of the problems the CT guys point out about the TR position and it makes most TR guys happy because it is closer to them than the CT. Recall however that we started with the necessity for certainty. With no true majority reading, we have no true certainty, even supposing that this argument had weight.

The critical text is that which came about (through a similar process) but which originated from the 1880 Greek text of Westcott and Hort. Among the first English translations from this text was the English Revised Version in 1901.

Our argument for the TR at this point is rather simple. We understand we need certainty. We know that Scripture promises that we will have God’s perfect transcendent Word for us to live by. Lastly, we follow the Holy Spirit guided church as it searched for the Word of God. God uses human means. He did so in the assembly of the canon after the writing of the NT. He did so in bringing the Reformation and their emphasis on returning to the Scriptures to Europe. It was here that the church recognized the need for it to be in the common tongue and so it was here that the church looked for and sought out the Word of God. The brilliant “scholars” of the Reformation’s day were pastors called of God to minister. How did they know which MSS to use, and which to ignore? God worked in much the same way of the collecting of the canon. This resulted in a text which was used to translate. Another text and another were published. Each one correcting the mistakes of the past text. The Holy Spirit led the bride of Christ accepting each in turn until the TR and the King James Version. After this however, there was not another publicly and universally accepted Greek text, nor an English version. Today, there are over a dozen versions sitting alongside each other and not one has obtained widespread public and undisputable acceptance among the Holy Spirit lead church. These are the positive reasons we argue for the TR, and come to the conclusion of the KJV. We have a host of negative reasons against the CT as well; this is our last step.

There are striking differences between the CT and the TR. The CT as known today began in the 1800’s and has continued changing and evolving. The CT has been in development for over 100 years and does not have a final form. Nor does the current CT as of yet have an English version translated from it. While the TR tradition began in the rise of the Reformation and the brilliant minds that accompanied it, the CT arose from the Enlightenment. The mindset of the Enlightenment was that man was the measure for all things. It was a turning from the Scriptures rather than too them. The Enlightenment rejected inspiration and divinity. The standard of faith is recorded by Kant as that which man’s reason finds morally profitable. It was this environment which fostered Westcott and Hort.

Westcott and Hort (hereafter WH) published their Greek text in 1881. This was the first popular critical text. WH put great stock in Sinaiticus (one of the Alexandrian texts; claimed to be found in the trash), and especially Vaticanus (MSS contained in the Vatican library). These two MSS were judged as the best MSS and their readings were taken above others – primarily Vaticanus. While the CT has evolved today so that the current version is not near as blatant in its dismissal of the previous Holy Spirit guided tradition, it follows strongly in WH footsteps. Two reasons drive us to further analyze these men. 1. This tradition began with WH. 2. They abandoned the church tradition of the previous 300 years.

While none of the men through the TR tradition were perfect nor inspired, it can be seen through history how God used each to lead the church to the acceptance of the TR text. WH however called the TR a “corrupt text.” They set the standard for preferring two MSS over 1,000’s. They valued the text of the RCC over the text of the Reformation. (This is completely opposite to that of the Reformation which took the church away from the heresy of the RCC and towards the Scriptures.) Further, these men were not orthodox and could easily be labeled heretics. Note the following beliefs drawn from their own writings:

They believed in and agreed with:

1. Baptismal Regeneration

2. Necessity of the Sacraments

3. Mary Worship

4. Purgatory

5. Prayers for the dead

6. Communism

7. Darwin

They did not believe in:

1. Literal Heaven

2. Literal 2^nd coming of Christ

3. Literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on Earth

4. Reality of Angles

5. The oneness of the Trinity

6. Literal Devil

7. Soul’s existence apart from the body.

8. Power of the atonement

9. Inspiration of Scripture

These are the men with whom the CT position originated. Those that follow in their path have problems of their own.

History of the CT:

The CT path following WH includes the publication of several other Greek texts: Tischendorf’s text (containing almost entirely Sinaiticus, published prior to WH), and the popular Nestle text in 1898. Nestle’s text would undergo 27 editions and would be the main underlying text for almost every new English translation. Nestle published his edition using Tischendorf’s, WH, and other less-well-known text. The 13^th edition was published by his son in 1927 using the same texts for its basis. When considering further editions Nestle enlisted the help of Kurt Aland who would then make the 26-27 editions “Nestle-Aland.” Aland also happened to be on the committee of the United Bible Society (UBS). The first Bible society in the early 1800’s supported the RCC. As the Bible societies around the world joined to form the UBS, the support and participation of the RCC continued. The UBS produced 4 editions of a Greek text to be used for translating the Gospel around the world. Edition 3 and 4 are exact replicas of the Nestle-Aland 26 and 27. The only differences are their apparatus. The texts are identical.

Though the UBS may have seemed to some to have started with good intentions, it was involved with heretical views from the first. Constantly involving the RCC in each committee and decision, the UBS extended farther by inviting “representatives from 46 different denominations, including Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and even a Christian Scientist!” – Plains Baptist Challenger, Sept. 1982. The goal of the UBS was to “prepare a ‘common text’ of the Bible in the original languages, acceptable to all Churches, including Roman Catholics; and to explore the possibility of preparing a ‘common translation’ in certain languages, which could be used by Protestants and Roman Catholics alike.” – Andrew Brown, The Word of God among All Nations, p. 122).

There is no current English version from this text; every English translation besides the NKJV since the KJV has however been based on the CT tradition begun by WH. In the process of creating these texts the translators admit that they will not come to a perfect text but it will hopefully just be better than before. In creating an English translation the do not rely on one published Greek text but rather upon multiple. Even with all this work towards a solid Greek text, no English Bible has been translated from it.

We have noted then that the CT tradition began in a time of departure from the truth. It was started by heretics who denied the doctrine of inspiration. It has continued by one of the most ecumenical groups whose published goal has always been ecumenical acceptance. There is no English version that is based solely on this text. The Holy Spirit lead church has not publicly and universally left the TR for any new Greek text. Rather, the influx of multiple Greek texts and English versions has seen the almost universal weakening of the church, doubt in the authority of Scriptures, the support of Evolution, and the dismissal of God from our nation. It has witnessed pastors standing in the pulpit and throwing their Bible away since it is no longer relevant nor needed.

What I have not covered are the arguments against the KJV being perfect. Often those are the arguments raised, and they do take up quite some space. They include trouble accepting the work of the KJV translators without applying to them the doctrine of inspiration (which we don’t). These things should be handled similar to any unsaved person claiming problems with the Gospels or different numbers recorded dying at such-and-such battle. We begin those thoughts with the truth from God’s Word that it is accurate and inerrant. Then we look at the “difficulties” and answer them as best we can. We do not admit of error because God says it is not. Whether we can explain it thoroughly enough is not a test of God’s truth. The same applies to the KJV argument. Just because one word may see inaccurate to someone, does not mean we throw out our previous argumentation. We begin with the conclusion we have reached that we have the inerrant Word of God and then answer the translation issue accordingly: never giving up our ground.

As we have covered quite a bit, I have included an outline of the main points as well as tried to highlight those things that are necessary to the argument

1. Need for Certainty.

2. Proper Exegesis of Scriptures leads us to the doctrine of Preservation.

3. 3 texts possible: TR, Majority, and CT; Majority text not a viable option.

4. We fight for the TR

It was the accepted Greek text as seen in the Holy Spirit guided Church.

The tradition began in the glory of the Reformation;

The theme of the Reformation was by grace alone, though faith alone, in Christ alone.

The Reformation was lead by Pastors who called the church back to the Scriptures.

This tradition leads us to the KJB in English.

5. We fight against the new tradition.

The tradition began under the thinking of the Enlightenment.

Man is the measure.

Inspiration and divinity are nonexistent.

WH were heretics; they introduced this tradition; they didn’t even believe in inspiration.

Main MSS of this tradition found under questionable circumstances; or in the heart of the RCC.

WH completely discarded the TR tradition. The tradition accepted by the chuch for over 300 years they called “corrupt.”

Ecumenical tradition.

Translation committees providing the new Text to the world are full of apostasy. They are ecumenical and are bringing all of “Christianity” back to Rome.

The scholars of today are translators who sit on committees, rather than men called of God to oversee His flock.

forgot

2009-08-06T10:59:00.002-06:00

All of that and I forgot to mention that I took a worldview quiz I had read about in an article. The guy who wrote the article teaches at a Christian college (some kind) and failed the test with the result of socialism. I figured I might as well take it. I did, and I scored extremely well: 166 out of 174, or something. 95%. So, they sent me to this other page where I could print out a certificate saying I had a Christian Worldview. I saved it so I can print it out when I get to school and have access to a printer. It wasn't hard. Unfortunately, I think I may have misplaced that link too....not very good of me lately. Let me see if I can find it.

http://www.worldviewweekend.com/test/register.php

You have to give your email and name and stuff. It claims it takes like 30-45 minutes, but it didn't take me that long. Most of the questions don't require a lot of thought imo. Anyway, if you want a certificate from this supposedly reputable organization then take the test. I think you only need a 75% to get it. . .

i want to blog -- be warned, this is 6 pages long

2009-08-05T19:25:00.005-06:00

I want to blog. Every now and then I have strands of thought worth blogging about, but they don't last long. It isn't as if I have been extra busy. I haven't.

NOTE: Now that I see this is 6 pages long I have notated good places to stop for a break. Aren't I a nice guy? :)

One of my only and most enjoyable activities of late has been working out. Mike was right. He told me once if I really worked out for several months I wouldn't want to stop. I had a hard time accepting that at first since I had worked out on and off for several years, but this past year at the gym really helped. Of course, maybe I also grew up some and realized that anything worth doing takes perseverance and diligence. And then I decided I wanted this, and so I worked towards it....could be.

I really admired the way my sister had been reading through the NT and decided it was foolish of me not to be spending a good amount of time in the Bible. Doesn't matter if I have a PhD, an MA, or a ThM. God doesn't require those things. God does require that we know Him. That we live for Him. I have been trying for 10 chapters a day. Not so grand a goal perhaps, but a good one for me. That is reading the entire Bible twice in a little under a year. I would be very pleased if I kept it up a year. Though reading the Bible through in a year was a good habit I had during my youth group years, it is not one I held onto long after. And I have never held a more advanced schedule. I remember my mom reading throught the Bible twice a year when I was a kid. That, and similar memories are good memories. They speak of Christian character being acted out, and not just preached to us. That is something I greatly appreciate from my memory.

I was thinking the other day, and my parents have always been working to stay in shape as well. Whether it was dumbbells in the corner of the living room, VHS exercise tapes, Tae Bo, or walking, they have always been keeping themselves healthy. A good example for me. It is hard to me to make myself walk. I am honestly trying to find a good time to walk.

It is such a contrast to other people and other families. My parents regularly watching their diets. Exercising. Doing devotions. Working on the house. Family devotions. Things I know that are right and do by habit; I find the reason for doing them in my parents doing them.

I have a dilemma. Based on my weight and how hard I have been working out, I should be consuming around 170-200g or protein a day. That is a lot of protein. I eat two eggs in the morning = 14. 2 cans of tuna throughout the day = 52. 2 scoops of whey = 52. That is only 118. I bought cottage cheese, but I cannot make myself eat it. I really wished I liked it. It looks fine, I just cannot eat it. So, I got the recipe from my mom for the green salad and I'm going to try that. That is 12g before bed. Milk is 8g if I make myself take a glass. I suppose if I add one more scoop of whey that puts me at around 164. Another scoop would put me at 190. Not too shabby if I can get that. However, three scoops of whey a day is more than I currently budgeted. It was hard for me to budget 2 scoops, since last year I was taking 1. The tuna comes out to be about the same price as the whey (per gram of protein), and Milk is really close. Milk is always in the house, and is a necessity. Last year I maybe had a glass a month...maybe. If I took one every day, that would certainly make us run out of milk faster. Of course, there is always actual dinner. That is never a consistent number of grams, but I do get protein through ground beef or chicken, etc. Thus, my dilemma. Yeah, its a big one.

School is starting soon. Monday I have a meeting. Then teacher orientation stuff starts Wednesday. I have grand plans of getting ahead so that I am ultra prepared material-wise and I only have to really worry about the kids. That is the way it should be, but HA! So, I praying towards that end, so that it is not just my foolish hopes, but that I might actually put work towards them.

I currently have four books under my belt. I plan on finishing the 5th tomorrow/Friday.

Warbreaker -- downloaded version. Good book. Thanks to Phil for the recommendation.
The Name of the Wind -- again. Still a great book. No real news on the 2nd. I follow him on FB now though.
Christian Apologetics -- Interesting. Higher thinking than I am used to. Good for me.
Writing with Style -- One of the few books I kept from College that was not Math or computers. Good book, and maybe one of these days I will summarize the chapter on common writing myths that I found interesting.
Portrait of Calvin -- Downloaded this one. More than halfway through. Not a long book, but since Calvin was honestly such a huge influence on life as we know it, I figured I should read something of his life. Already he has proven to be a genius beyond my ability -- about what I expected. I apologize that I do not have the exact link. It was republished from the Desiring God website. I'm sure a search will bring it up.

Not the 5 books I was planning on reading, but still I'm happy with it. I did make it through 250 pages of "Things to Come" by Pentacost. A must read on dispensationalism from what I hear, and the first 3rd proved as much. I started (about 1 chapter) "Christ of the Covenants" (the must read on covenantal theology) but I was quickly dissuaded by the distinctions he started with between covenants and testaments. I had the feeling the beginning was setting up the entire book, and it would have required a lot of extra reading/research in the first chapter for me to be able to disprove his later conclusions. I wasn't feeling up to it.

I read an article by a pastor and seminary president that suggested every pastor should be reading at least one book a week. He implied it was necessary. This of course makes my 5 books in a summer not that great, but I am still happy about it at the moment.

BREAK POINT -- get a drink and stretch

I checked my blog a little back and realized I left some things hanging. I did not buy the protein/creatine I had talked about that was so expensive. After two days and hours of reading I decided against it. Protein being the most important I will continue buying my walmart brand of that. I bought some supposedly pure creatine that lots and lots of people said was good, just nothing added to it. It was about the cheaper than what I get at walmart, so that was cool. I also bought some NO Xplode. That is new to me. I was taking (again) walmart NO, but not noticing what I am noticing now. I also got some glutamine, and dextrose. Those were quite cheap, and since I was ordering figured I would throw them in. I do notice the pump lasting, which is great. I have been upping weight since I've been back. This is my third week. I would expect to up at least three weeks anyway, since I came back guessing weight to use. After two months off, I wasn't going to throw what I had been repping on. I am supersetting a lot right now. I find that I get more or the same amount of total exercises in in less time. I was often pressing over an hour last year. This year an hour is my long day. That is good since my schedule is so tight already.

I will have to mix it up some time. They say I need to confuse my muscles, and that means switching it up. I like what I'm doing now, but I need to make sure I swap things in a month or so. They also say I should cycle Creatine. That I am unsure about but when I run out of everything near the end of Sept I plan on taking Oct off taking anything but protein. Well, that is the plan. We will see what happens.

I worked on Mike's website some more. I would have done more sooner, but I was told I was creating a place holder and someone else would have a more professional one up in two weeks. That would have been almost three weeks ago. So, I went back to work on it and got a system so Mike/Em could login and change the things they wanted changing without having to email me about it. Good for me; better for them. I woulda hated to have to do it, but they were patient and didn't put any pressure on or anything. They are currently at 389 in case you haven't heard. The signatures now are for him to run as Rebuplican. He thinks it will work better this way. From the little I know, this sounds better to me too.

I'm losing weight again, but not enough for me. From everything I know about me and have read about others, it seems that the hardest weight to lose is that around my lower abs...my belly fat. I took "before" measurements, but forgot to weigh myself. Now if I do it, I will definitely be lower as I can see the difference, but I still need to to give myself some kind of idea where I am.

I haven't had the MTG bite me to get me wanting to build any decks. It is harder when I have used them more recently. Maybe in a few months I will go through and take apart a few of my loser decks.

Stopped in my old guild's website because it was bookmarked and I was cleaning my bookmarks out. Not much going on. Almost commented on a thread, but decided against it.

My char is probably still pretty solid. I was mostly purple with a few blues before I left with epic mount....low/no gold though. My friend has about 17k on his account. He is also under level 50. He ran the AH. I don't want to play though....that's good. Let's hope it stays that way.

I need to have a desire to read. That is hard. If I have a reason, then that is easy. I was working on the website and that was something that needed to be done and I spent a few days reading, watching tutorials, etc. I wanted to learn about Calvin and so I started reading this biography. But when I don't have that desire, then I look for stupid stuff to occupy me. I almost bought Kingdom hearts 2. If I had a PS2 memory card I may have....don't know where I lost mine, but it saved me $20. Instead, I played Jardinains on easy (because I forgot to change the setting and didnt remember till I was in the 30s) and it was soooo slow. On lvl 51 with 15 lives and I left it paused. I will go back sometime in another year or so and keep going.....maybe.

We went out for Matt's b-day last week. Kobe steakhouse. While others fell prey to the yummy-yummy sauce, I escaped unscathed. It was good though. I always hesitate to get shrimp because I am sure I will not like it. I tried it and it was ok, but I will go with steak next time. It was good steak. I am not a steak eater...and it was good.

I read that pasta fell into the good carb category and thus, I have been eating my tuna in pasta rather than white bread which fell into the worst carb category. However, tuna salad gets dry rather easily. In order to keep it a delicacy instead of a dry meal, you need to ensure plenty of mayo. That of course is on the list of bad food. Lately the salad has been too dry, but its better for me that way, and the bread was never that good anyway. The other problem is the proper amount of noodle to tuna ratio. Mom always made the salad with about 1 can tuna / 2 cups noodles (I think). I made mine with 1:1. But looking at the cost and the carb/calorie/protein ratio, I need 4 can:1 cup. That is an off ratio and makes for mostly forks full of tuna with a few noodles every now and then. But I'm losing weight....life is full of sacrifices. heh.

I have budgeted to pay off all my debt and finish my classes this year. Lord permitting we should be able to do that. Of course it leaves us in about the same place as we were last year living wise. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't relaxed either. We were content and so will continue to pray for contentment. It is wonderful.

Then next year we have to wonder what we are doing. Do we look for a house? Well, we aren't putting any money away for a down payment this year, so we probably can't. What if we didn't pay off the debt, put all the money away and then bought a house next year? The lower monthly payment for living would mean we could easily pay off the debt next year. maybe. Lots of variables and things to consider.

LAST BREAK -- you can do it, go go go!

I try to pray for all of you. I know I don't call or write as often as I can, but everyone I can imagine reading this I try to keep in my prayers.

One thing that has been on my mind recently, and then even more so as I read this biography on Calvin is that I am a very blunt person. I also tend to feel some pull of responsibility to contribute my opinion when I see others in uncouth circumstances. Sometimes this is received rather pleasantly; others it is like how dare I comment on your private situation. The thing is, if I know about it, it isn't that private, or maybe it is private, and I just happen to be on the inside. I think it is something faulty in us (pride comes to mind) that tells us to be offended when other people sincerely try to help. Perhaps not. And that is where prudence is key. When to actually open my mouth and say something to a person. Maybe I think I have insight they don't have. Often the case that you can see something from the distance that you can't when you are coming up on it. I try to be careful. People make their own decisions, and often through much prayer you and I both come to different decisions but we are both sure that is what is for us. That must be understood.

Especially when you have taken the time to give your opinion, even had it listened to and heard fairly, and then rejected on reasonable basis. You then have to accept it. Maybe you could not do it. It doesn't matter; it is not your life.

After all of that, I wonder how many people would confront me like that. How many people, if I were to open something to them would just listen and not feel the inclination to tell me why they are sure I am wrong. Maybe they think it is not their business. If I tell them, it becomes their business (obviously depending on the degree of information relayed, and many things, etc.). I need people to tell me where I am wrong.

I have always prided myself on being able to detect to a fairly accurate degree my faults/sins. Often when I sinned, I knew it was sin. This -- trait, I guess you would call it comes in very handy now. Maybe I matured a little, but now when I recognize something as sin I find it very hard to continue through with it. I often immediately start to pray about it, and confess the thought. But with my aging I also know that my self-detection ability is not near what I took it to be. I don't see things. The wisdom I am gaining is enough to recognize my pride as giving me a false sense of things. I need people...friends, and family. I need them to come to me with genuine prayer-filled thoughts about something in my life they think I could change. It doesn't mean it is about sin. It is about a foolish decision they see me leading up to that they made in their life...or saw someone make. The more I live the more I sense that it is foolish to ignore advice from older people. But, of course, it is not just older people. I have gained a wealth of advice/knowledge/wisdom/experience from my peers. I value that.

There have been times in my life where people stood by and watched me do something without a word, yet they had serious misgivings about it. In one instance it wasn't until later that I actually found that out. I'm glad I found out though.

I think a big part of this is my integral need for honesty. I cannot abide falsehood. If all we have in life is communication, and if that communication cannot be trusted to mean what it says, then what do we have? However, if I am to be honest to you, I cannot sit by silently. Silence is assent. However, much we may disgree this is true. If I sit by silently while you go and make the biggest mistake of your life, and I say nothing because it is your life and your decision, I am granting my assent to the situation. In your mind, I don't care enough about you to object, or I don't think I need to object. A sad state.

Back to where I was, I need people to be honest with me. I need people to tell me my ideas stink. I need people to tell me that I am off; that I am missing something; that they don't think I can do such-and-such; that I would be better at something else, etc. One of my roommate told me once he didn't think I could be a pastor, but said I would make a good lawyer. I believe I blogged about it on more than one occasion. I was upset. I couldn't believe it. Yet, the more I thought about it, I was glad he was willing to tell me.

I had considered singing in the choir. My parents told me church choirs were for people with good voices. Hard to hear, but true.

I am still of the opinion that I can do pretty much anything I set my mind to (though my mental list of things I cannot is getting longer). However, I am getting old, and soon I will be jumping over many things that I will no longer be capable of doing. Only 4 years ago I was seriously considering law school. When I mention it, Kaylynn says, "Yeah, I thought I was going to marry a lawyer." Yet, today, had that thought not occured to me, it wouldn't even be a possible option. Further, I have a wife now. We all know it is possible to go through school with a wife and kids, but no one will ever say it is ideal. Necessary for some people for what God has called them too, but not ideal. At 26, in one year, when (if I finish my MA) I can truly begin my next pursuit, I must look at how long it will take me. Yes, having a PhD at 35 would be superb, but Lord willing we will have some children by then, and how much of their lives will I have missed? What will I be asking Kaylynn to go through?

You see, part of the reason I blog is for others to help me. I need help. I need advice, and advisors. I'm not asking you to all comment on everything and say don't do x, do do y. But, I would ask that you pray for me and my house.

It is late; I should go. I suppose the one reason for me to blog more often is so you don't get stuck reading 6 page blogs, ha!

miracles

2009-07-26T21:05:00.002-06:00

Do miracles happen any more? This question was posed to me while in MI during one of my first couple weeks there. I answered it; we debated briefly, and then we moved on. It did not reoccur to me until last night. Here is the dilemma.

How do we define miracles? Are miracles special revelation or general revelation? These two questions settle the matter. First, if we cannot define miracles, then how will we know if they still happen? Further, with a completely ludicrous definition, we could say there have never been such a thing as miracles. (Such would be nonsense for the Bible clearly speaks of miracles (in 37 different verses).)

But, how do we define revelation? Let us pause here to first consider some facts.

Special revelation as we have classically defined it has ceased. This argument we must have, and can prove from Scripture against the Catholics, and the Pentecostals.

Miracles, as commonly defined do happen. Since again, we are dealing with the very word which we want defined, we shall instead clarify our meaning by citing examples: A man wrought with a fatal illness to which no person (but one, whose mind had become mush) has ever been recorded surviving, suddenly was cured and retain no sign that he had ever possessed the disease. This is something we would refer to as a miracle. With this wonder, that escapes the explanations of science and medicine we see what we are considering. [The response to this not being a miracle is that there is something within nature that we have yet to discover that healed this man of this disease. And, that science, given several hundred more years would be able to explain this away. Before resorting to such a leap (which is an excuse that could almost certainly be used in infinite ways always claiming a lack of ignorance to be explained in the future), let us instead turn back to our problem of revelation.]

[Let me clarify here that this is without any research besides a brief concordance search. I have not ran my definitions through any systematics, nor compared them to my present theology looking for errors. This is a working definition for the time present. I hope, that if my findings change significantly, that I will have the time to return and expand upon them.]

Now then, we define special revelation as that that points directly to Jehovah or to Christ, and general revelation as that that points to the Almighty, or the Creator. (Notice the difference here: As Christians we can equate these terms, Christ and Creator, but the Bible speaks that nature and general revelation point not to Christ, but rather to the Almighty. Nature, and so we define general revelation points to the fact that there must be a Supreme Being. It does not point to Christ specifically. Man only comes to that conclusion via special revelation as found in Scripture.)

These definitions work for our purposes. Again, Special revelation points specifically to Christ. General revelation points to An Almighty Being. If this is the case, then miracles as defined via example can and do fall within the venue of general revelation. For, they do not point to any specific god, but to A God. However, not all miracles are the same.

For out present age/dispensation, we are safe to say that miracles fall into general revelation, but in the Scriptures, miracles were used to identify a prophet as truly being from the god that sent them. Moses and Aaron performed miracles before the elders of Israel showing that they were really from Jehovah God. Pharaoh's magicians performed their miracles in an attempt to demonstrate that their god was just as powerful. The miracles performed by Christ were a sign and condemnation to the cities in which they were done for they clearly showed Him to be the Messiah of Israel, and He was rejected. Further, the early church was accompanied by miracles to demonstrate that the speakers were from God. These miracles gave credence to the performer. They neither pointed to Christ per se, nor to Almighty God.

We have yet to have define a miracle. This is not easily done. First, there are several unsaved philosophers (Kant is a big name you should probably be somewhat familiar with) that provide a definition one might easily accept. Some Christian philosophers insist that it is impossible to put a definition to a miracle. Further, one must be careful not to abandon the definition just because they provide it, but to provide a definition based solely on what merits it stands.

If we say that miracles are that which is not normal, we must then define what is normal. That in itself is a harder question then we may be able to answer here. Theologians say that God is the ultimate Norm. If God is the standard by which we judge normal, then miracles are obviously normal.

If we say that it is contrary to nature, we know that God has not just set the Earth on its course and let it go, but that He upholds all things by the Word of his power, and that he is the Sustainer of all things. Further, our proper understanding of his sovereignty tells us that every drop of rain falls where He desires, and how He desires and thus God is personally active in everyday events.

I think, that if we define miracles experiencially, rather than ontologically we have a much easier time of it. Experientially, we know miracles to be the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, the deaf hearing, the dumb speaking, and the dead coming back to life. The curing of all manner of diseases falls into this category as well as per the Gospels, and so, given this definition, and the previous definitions of revelation we can say with certainty that miracles do take place.

I have been having less and less blogging time/material as I have been emailing my cousin. But I have also been trying to spend time talking through everything in good detail with my wife. It is good for me, her, and us, and to be honest, it is more enjoyable than blogging about it. I will try to continue to blog though. That is good for me, you, and us as well. ;)

quick update

2009-07-23T23:20:00.001-06:00

As it is 1:20am, I need to make this quick.

If you recall, back in May/June I spoke about the FBFI and the message preached by one Dan Sweatt. This message bashed Calvinism. Dr. Bauder from Central Seminary in MN rebuked him in his weekly newsletter and called for the leaders of FBFI to do something.

They did do something. It can be found at their website if you care. They basically said that they have always included calvinists and non and that everyone needs to speak with grace via the pulpit or keyboards. (Apparently their was a great storm of bloggers who were very unhappy with the message.) A week after Bauder's initial email, he emailed again. This one commending them for their response.

Then, the third week, he copied/pasted dozens of emails he had received regarding the issue. Several were appreciative, and some were not so much.

The question remaining is whether the response was appropriate and enough or not? Dr. Bauder believes it is for the time being. Many do not share his optimism. The result? Fundamentalism is still falling apart. As much now as ever.

If it weren't 1:25am I would blog more, but i need to go to bed. Good night!

again

2009-07-22T21:08:00.002-06:00

I've been emailing back and forth with someone and as I write, I notice things that seem to belong here. I think I'm going to copy/paste some of them and try to expand on my thoughts.

I'm finding that I miss the learning that comes from college. I can read a book or two or five on my own, but I don't learn as much. The Dmin always seems the easiest Doctorate to get, but its not the one I want and its not even possible for me since I'm not in the ministry and it usually requires active ministry. Anyway, that is the more recent problem I have. One of the possible solutions that I have found is SES.

I have been considering this school http://www.ses.edu/Home/DoctrinalStatement/tabid/70/Default.aspx after I finish my current MA. I was looking at their MA in Apologetics. I noticed where the profs got their degrees, and was happy with that. I was looking at the distance learning. I would have to start slow since I don't know what I can handle, but I'm thinking 5 years for 60 credits (hopefully max). I think i can do it faster, but I don't want to get my hopes up. The other thing is money, and one of their classes must be taken on campus. I can't find anywhere if it is a module, or if I have to be there an entire semester. That would rot. I was looking all over for an MA in apologetics, and it was hard to find anything that even looked reputable offering that. So I found a list of schools offering it, and this had distance option, plus I was happy with the profs education.

I've been considering writing a book for some time now. It was always a KJB book, since I don't really know too many things, and I have a pull to write something. I love the format that Whitaker uses. I've got quotes, references, several different 1-2 pages starts, etc. About a week ago, I almost started really going at it....then I stopped again. Does it even need to be written? This has gone on for around 100 years; would anyone read it? Would it accomplish anything? Maybe writing like old reformers won't accomplish anything today. Maybe it needs to be easy to read. Can it be deep and easy to read? Then I wonder if writing anything accomplishes anything any more. Those are my thoughts on writing; though I still want to write. But I have decided not to pursue this topic currently. I still want to write. I just need to find something worth pursuing and writing about.

I was directed to BBC in Clarks Summit. This tends to be a better solution than the SES, although it completely abandons the Apologetic trail. They offer a PhD in Theology online and through modules. The modules occur three times a year for one week. That would be fantastic. They want a MDiv before you enter the PhD, but they also say they will work with MAs to get them to the proper place for the PhD. Just what I need. Of course, it takes 3 years full time. For most who have fulltime jobs, etc, it takes 5-6 years. For me, who needs to finish my current MA (1 year) and then fill in the gaps I'm missing (1-2 more years) and then the 6 years of PhD work, I'm now 35. Honestly not too bad.

I am 20 minutes from Clearwater College and I can use their library for $35 a year. That is a great price to get into the library if it is any good. I'm guessing it has to have enough for me at this time. If only I knew what I needed to reference.

I have also debated on many occasions writing a commentary. If I were to preach through a book, I believe that I could write a commentary on it at the time. Since, I am not a greek scholar I would have to go easy on the Greek, but not all commentators have greek, and indeed, even at the MA level not everything I read disected the Greek anyway. (The cool part then was that since we didn't know Greek, we were permited to skip any Greek exegesis. . .we liked books with pages of greek/endnotes. ;))

I made list of all the things I would like to accomplish this year and numbered them, and put Greek fairly high up. . .and then I realized that both my Greek books and index cards are in my parents basement. I don't know how I will ever get three huge bins down here. . .maybe someday I will have a house, and an office and all my books.

The other good news about BBC is that they only require Greek and Hebrew. Only, you say? Yes, most PhD programs require two modern languages as well, usually German and French (Latin is usually permitted if desired). Though this sounds like good news, maybe it isn't. Maybe I should be pushing myself to learn those other two languages. Maybe I need to make my brain study like that. Maybe I will find it necessary to read Barth in the original language and not be able to, /GASP. At the moment I think, meh.

I have been inspired by my sister, and am trying to read the Bible 30 minutes a day. That is more than I have purposefully planned in a good while. It is going well thus far.

I started working out again. I missed it. It feels soo good to be sore again. Interesting sentence that. Yes, I have to make myself to deadlifts now. And yes, I force myself to work my legs. But it is good for me. The creatine/protein that I read is the best costs an outrageous amount. . .but the guys in the trial added over 80lbs average to their bench in 12 weeks. That would be fantastic. But, forget that. I'm even going to try *whispers* running.

Kaylynn has been looking at houses and apartments lately. We like where we are, but thought it would be good to look around as well. Our rent is going up $10. That isn't at all bad considering they wanted to charge us that last time but the lady had told us in a moment of weakness that since it wasn't a pool view she would take $10 off. Ha! Plus, we have a Washer/Dryer here.

We aren't sure what she will be doing this year. We won't have William =(, so she has been trying to think about different things. I was told today that tons of people were applying at the school for positions. I guess they have lots of people wanting to Sub. She was considering subing, but after I heard that I don't know if she would get it anymore. Last year it was like a shortage. They made it sound like it is always hard to find subs. This year they made it sound like they weren't going to be able to use everyone that wanted a job.

I was offered the after-school job again. I got my email a couple weeks ago that said "I hate after school care!" Yeah, I remembered how much I hated it, buuuut, it would be nice to have the extra money. The few classes I have left are going to be about $600 each, and afterschool care will take care of the rest of this degree. It will be nice to know that I won't have to find that extra money some place. . .if I take it. If I do, that would mean being at school from 7-6. That is a long time. And since we only have one car, Kaylynn will either be home alone, or we have to find her a job in the next two weeks. Just pray. We are trusting the Lord that He will provide whatever we need. She really really doesn't want to be home alone for 11 hours. Who would?

I've played a good deal of poker over this past weekend. Won a good amount. Lost a fair amount. I came in 3rd out of 90 in the last 90 person I played. I was quite happy with that honestly. I'm at about $19k, fake of course.

I keep updating Mike's website as I am told things, or invited to things through FB.

I've been struggling to make it through this book. I told myself I needed to finish it before I start the next one, and I told myself I *had* to finish the next one before school starts. I am also reading a book on writing on the side. It is good, and I have always found it helpful. If only I was a good writer. I need a better vocabulary. But I don't have time. I have every hour planned out for the next semester/year and I don't have much free time. If I end up watching an extra TV show, or playing a computer game then I suddenly lost something important. That can be good or bad.

The Truth Project will be starting up again in January. I thought they had said it would be in the fall, but I guess not. So, January it is. For a brief moment today, I thought Mrs. Coney was going to say something about it not being that great afterall. . .but no, it is that great and amazing etc. Maybe it really will be. Maybe I will have to get on here and say I was completely wrong and it is fantastic. I doubt it though.

I bought Psych seasons 1 and 2. We have one episode left. /shrug.

Time to go. Goodnight all. And remember, I have nothing constraining me right now, so it is your responsibility to call me when you are free. I don't want to wake you up or disturb you. :P

parents

2009-07-15T21:49:00.004-06:00

Forget for a moment the parents we are generally familiar with and love. I want to write today about a world that is despicable. A world that is hard to imagine. Stories from this world are more weird than fiction. Rarely do you even see this world through the TV.

This is the world of fundamental baptist right-wing conservative homeschoolers. These parents that go to conferences and think they are "good people." These parents that don't understand how to love but only that their children reflect upon them, and everything revolves around them.

These parents strip any bit of decision making or freedom from their children. They cash their children's checks and take the money for their own. They buy a car to be used by their children and so it can be taken at a moment's notice. They pay for their child's phone so they can cut them off entirely. This does not end at the age of 18. Oh, no! They are in control until they decide to someone else is the one their child should marry.

Recently I was informed of a daughter whose house is worse than the one many of you are more familiar with in these manners. Physical abuse is common, and the house is ruled with an iron fist. If this was a country than people would be getting shot and/or tortured for missing curfew. At the moment this 18 year old girl is only a junior in high school. She has no money of her own (per the above) even though she has a job. And as far as I know she has only one real friend. To top it all off, her phone was taken away because she went to her friend for help. Now she is completely cut off. Completely. And she has already tried to kill herself once. Yeah. See? This isn't just some story that will always have a happy ending. She's considering it again, and she has no one to talk to.

But, and this is the part my wife really hates, she went and spoke to her pastor. She told him something. She explained stuff. Do you understand how hard it is for someone who has lived with this her whole life to not think it is normal? Do you understand the courage it takes to approach anyone, even a pastor?! I do. It took me forever to convince some people. Other people have promised each other they can't tell me what's going on anymore. If you honestly want to help, you will be cut off, because they are sure "It's not that bad."

The pastor told her she needed to submit. She was making a big deal out of this, and she needed to do what she was told. BAH!!! What is with pastors? Do they honestly think that children are out of control with blaming their parents ignorantly? Are pastors so ignorant of the teenagers in their congregation that they honestly think that these teens could bring these slanderous accusations easily? Pastors, take warning. You need to know your teens. It is not for the teen leader to know them. It is your flock.

This is the ehrm, fourth(?), pastor that I know of that has ignored such situations (not all the same). Why?!

Of course, this only places guilt on the pastor. It does not say that the situation would be any better if the pastor had done his job. No, because the parents, as upstanding members of the church and community, would lie to his face, and go home and beat their kids. Then the kids wouldn't speak up again. How dare they the first time. Prevent their dad from being a deacon in a Baptist church. They deserve whatever they get.

Of course, the daughter begins to question God. If her parents are, as everyone says they are, really godly people, then what kind of god is God? Does she want anything to do with Him? If everything in life is horrible and the only worldview that could ever correct that is run portrayed by horrible people, would life be worth living through? It seems that the only thing to prevent suicide is to be a Christian, but even then, many weak Christians might not make it through it either.

And what is it with homeschoolers being held back in these same circles? You don't want to lose control? Yeah, they can't run away with a year of school left. They won't make it anywhere.

My wife wants to rescue them all. She knows what it is like and wants to save them all. Unfortunately, they can't even be found or recognized. How do you find these kids? The preaching against this stuff is Amen'd by the guilty. They supposedly think they are doing right. And then they blow it and admit they have a small temper problem that they are working on, but "Nobody's perfect." "Everyone has skeleton's in their closet." What?! Really?! Is that how you think!? They quote verses for everything they do. They have a verse. They have a verse for that, and against that. AUGH!

I can't have everyone living with me. I can't. I have no room, and can't support them. On the other hand, I do have room, for 4-8 more, and we can live on Ramen and Mac and Cheese if we need to. Tuna is a good protein, and vitamins aren't too expensive considering what we get out of them. And we have water. Of course, I also have to be gone for the day, and don't have a job where I can supervise and be "dad" to all these people. Oh that I had a lot of money and a job where I worked at home. But, the desire to be rich really isn't mine anymore...

Everyone I know older & wiser would advise against it too. It is my wife's first instinct. It is all I have ever seen from my mom. It is often my instinct. Of course, I must care for my family first. But what is the difference between someone starting and living in an orphanage and caring for all those kids, than what I would be doing? God would provide. Ideally, it would only be one or two kids at a time. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

I think I will leave other blog business for a different blog.

Please pray for our friend.

A couple links

2009-07-15T10:50:00.001-06:00

I saw these and thought of all the writing aspirations in the family and figured I would link them.

http://greatcloud.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/what-you-need-to-know-to-write-a-novel-in-one-blog-post/

http://greatcloud.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/7-ways-to-market-your-book-or-build-a-platform/

Don't know how accurate or useful it really is, but maybe interesting to read.

summer time

2009-07-14T12:03:00.002-06:00

So, summer is half way over.

My vacation was great. I accomplished pretty much everything I had planned and more extra bonuses on top.

First, congratulations to my brother and his wife on being married! That was a great way to kick off the summer. There was time with family: brother, sisters, parents, cousins, uncles, aunts, grandma. There was lots of MTG, and some Street Fighter. I read two books and almost half way through one I had to leave in MI, and I plan on finishing another this week, and two more later this month. I played Volleyball and through around a football. I played lots of Playstation 2, and watched a view good movies. I won Dungeon Master and Chaos Strikes Back, and have started DMII. I attended a Tea Party, and yelled "Mike for Congress!" I went door-to-door in Belding and helped gather signatures. I put up my first real website. http://www.michaelvankleeckforcongress.com I went to Joe's wedding reception and I got in touch with some friends I hadn't seen in a long time.

I stopped by the school today and no one knew where my new textbooks are. I think I am going to try to get back in the gym and workout before school starts back up. Rent will be going up about $10-15 a month, which really isn't bad at all. But we have been thinking of looking for a house anyway, so we are still checking. We are catching up on sleep and slept in super late the other day...not sure how it happened.

Well, I'm not sure that I have any more to say...seems weird to say that.

I could blog about all the stuff that happened in more detail and stuff. . .but I don't think that it needs to be said. I'm considering building my own website now that I have a tad more experience.

That's it for now. I'm back in FL.

pride

2009-06-30T22:51:00.003-06:00

When you argue with almost anyone, the whole argument is reduced from all the subtle points of either side to the pride of both debaters. It happens everywhere. When you argue with intellectuals, they are sure they are as smart as you, or have something to prove in their arena of study and so once they have taken a side, usually based on little or no data and much opinion, they proceed to defend it regardless of its actual strength or validity.

But this isn't just with those in intellectual circles. I have heard those that tend to sneer at the intellectuals doubt whether proven history actually took place because the place where they usually hear about it is from "those other people." These unlearned are proud that they have not pursued greater things. They hold to their ground as fiercely as anyone because they must not only prove their point but also that they as an unlearned have just as valuable a voice as the learned.

It is pride that gets in everyone's way. It is not a true seeking of truth. It is pride. I'm too proud to admit I am wrong. I'm too proud to admit their is value in pursuing the education you have pursued. I'm too proud to admit that you do not need my education to have a viable opinion. Pride gets in all of our way. Everyone is proud.

I was going to write an article once on Arminianism: The Christian's Pride. As Christians we need to have something we can boast about. Everyone wants to boast about something, so Arminians chose to boast about their free will.

Calvinists understand the futility of this, but then always find something else to boast in. We need to save that life because if we don't God can't do it. They don't say it like that, but that is the end result. They can boast that God needs them. It is up to them to ______. Foolishness.

Then, we see all of this pride and are proud that we are not misinformed like others. We are proud that we understand those hidden mysteries while others do not. We are proud of _____. You see? It goes on and on.

So, arguing is pointless, unless their are others around to hear. Further, it has never been our responsibility to change hearts. It hasn't. It is our responsibility to speak the truth, no matter how "pointless" it may seem. We speak the truth because the Word will never return void. We speak the truth because God can use it to minister how He sees fit. We argue for the people who are not pridefully stuck in the issue. Since they have not divulged their side, then they can listen and without hurting their pride they can change opinions when reasonable rational rhetoric has been presented.

I need to enhance my vocabulary. I have read and heard that a good way to do that is to read. I have read 2.5 books this summer. I have not felt my vocabulary being enhanced. Granted, the two I have actually finished were both fantasy fiction. The next three I finish will be theologically based, and so I should see some enhancement...right? Maybe I will gain something from the "Philisophical Word of the Day" blog I am following, or the Theological counterpart. . .maybe.

It is late and I should be in bed. However, the last three nights have all been late leading to sleeping in later, and creating an even later evening and so the cycle continues. I was in bed at 11:40 but alas, sleep escaped me, and so the cycle continues. Though, it isn't even 1:30 yet, and last night was 3.

Well, goodnight.

Spoken to Americans

2009-06-25T08:09:00.002-06:00

"In the rise of your university education . . .; in the decentralized . . . character of your local governments; . . . in your championship of free speech, and in your unlimited regard for freedom of conscience; in all this . . . it is demonstrable that you owe this to Calvinism and to Calvinism alone."

-- Lectures on Calvinism by Abraham Kuyper

I want the book. I'm glad that I have found a desire to read. It is still hard at times. I have read 2 books through thus far this summer, and am working on two more with a 5th in the mail. Hopefully I can keep reading.

Fundamentalism

2009-06-14T14:21:00.003-06:00

The first time I heard the strong opposition which I now see much more wide spread was in my own home. Now, I am aware that there are many of my generation who look at the churches of America, or look at Fundamentalism and feel disgust. This is because of what has become popular from "Bible-thumpers."

Don't drink.
Don't smoke.
Don't dance.
Don't go to theater.
Don't get tattoos .
Don't get piercings.
Men's hair shouldn't touch their ears, or the collar of the neck.
Don't listen to rock/jazz/country/etc.

Well, isn't this what is preached? In some circles it is seen as churches preaching rules. Others see a slightly broader perspective and claim that this isn't happening outside fundamentalism and attribute this "rule preaching" to us. This is what makes the leaders worried. They think the movement is dying...in honesty, I have no reason to doubt them. I am not "up" on Fundamentalism. If the leaders are talking about whether it is going to survive, I'm pretty sure we can think about it that way.

Well, I think that its true that we preach that way. Somehow through the last several decades the church has grown lethargic. Pastors worry about their people and instead of trusting the Word of God to work in hearts they begin to preach more and more application. They see the types of activities that the unsaved are involved in, and preach against it. It doesn't help, so they continue to preach application, application, application. Instead of allowing the Spirit of God to work in the hearts through the power of the Gospel, they preach keeping rules. But then, the next generation does not know how to preach doctrine. They don't know how to preach the whole counsel of God. They only know to preach rules.

I'm not doubting any one's salvation, but instead of being able to handle strong meat, they struggle with anything but simple milk. The pastors see this, and probably partly in fear shy away from anything difficult. With so many pastors being kicked out of their churches why risk talking over their heads. Continue to preach the application/rules.

Of course, it would be wrong to assay that the decline of the church these past decades has been solely the fault of the elders. If the sheep had themselves kept to the word of God, if they had done their responsibility to live holy separated lives, if they had kept themselves unspotted from the world. In all, the church is at fault for the mess we are in. Whether you say "the church" or "fundamentalism" it doesn't matter. We are where we are through our own laziness and unbelief.

Something else that occurred to me earlier is that even if Fundamentalism as a movement died, it wouldn't phase little GFBC. In all likelihood, it would not phase Southshore Baptist Church. Fundamentalism will continue for years to come. At least for some years, since I am a fundamentalist. While there are not as many younger folk here in Edmore, there are enough in my generation within my family who are also Fundamentalists, who would continue to be so even if the movement just died. But that implies a movement can just die. I don't know much about movements, but I think that they slow down, rather than just fall over. I think Fundamentalism had a fiery start (wouldn't be a good movement without it), but its been a century almost. Of course it is waning. Multitudes have considered starting a new movement, but why start a new fire when you have coals still burning? Easier to stoke an existing fire. . .and that has been the conclusion often arrived at.

Still, many are leaving. They see the rule preaching, and in the foolishness of Rehoboam's counsellors, they perceive that in order to escape this they must abandon all they have been taught. They begin to build again the foundation testing every thought, every creed, every statement of faith. They want to preach Christ (to their credit), but they do so with the dropping of everything their parents held dear. Now, we must with Paul rejoice when Christ is preached and as I think of some whom I have seen leave MBBC and go to preach, though I wonder at their doctrine and liberality, I do believe that they can preach the Gospel. So, while I rejoice that the Gospel is going forth, I regret that it be with such means and accompanying stubble.

Who am I to judge? Most of you will know that I am often a quick judge (slowing down as I grow up, but often still quick). Is it my place to sit here and judge them? Why do I not look inward and judge? Simply put, I do. I know many of my faults and behind them I know lurk a multitude waiting to show themselves.

This does not neglect me however from seeing and commenting on the way the church is going. The church is the Bride of Christ. I was speaking with my cousins a few weeks back, and one of them brought this fact to my mind yet again. How can we look at our Lord's bride and see the weak, lazy, sin filled pews and not grieve? How can we not desire it to be spotless?

Side note: I hesitated significantly to even mention the church as Christ's bride. It is not a thought for loose consideration. My quick judgment judged me immediately. I fear to write because I fear that I will sound like some old reformed or puritan writer. That doesn't bother me. What does is that I will be judged because of that. I would rather that my words got across their meaning rather than people finding me falsely pious. But I mean no false piety. I believe what I write. . .It is just a hesitation that often besets me. I have found that as I age, I feel more inclined to use such terminology. I remember being afraid to speak my mind for fear I was copying others. But if I truly mean it, then why would I fear? The insecurities of being human, and a lack of trust in God. I find that I have often dumbed myself down, and now, when I reach for the right word it is well beyond my grasp. Something that I could not have seen coming, nor could I have prevented. It is still often subconscience and it stems from laziness.

The Puritans recorded their prayers, and they are read now giving insight into how these men thought and felt. But were someone to stand and open the worship of God in such a prayer, I think the church would be in shock. Perhaps it is my cynical judgmentalism.

I won't discuss the above mentioned rules. I may at some point. People put too much effort into following rules.

Every now and then someone will tell you something they have learned spiritually, and when you take that in sincerety it can be an incredible exhortation/encouragement. One of my cousins was entirely and Biblically convinced of something once. He was right, but at the time he told me it still had the hold on him that it was something to strive daily for. It made an impression. It is rare that something like that takes hold of me. I remember one time more vividly than any other. And it changed my life. Changed my actions. I had been saved for years, but this message opened my spiritual eyes. Anyway, back to my cousin. He told me that life was not about any of those rules. It was about a relationship with God. First, he said it and I said, "yes, you're right." Then he said it again, "No Dave[realizing that it wasn't just a fact for the mind], that is all that matters. Abraham was the friend of God." It doesn't sink in the first time. It probably didn't the second time. He told me several times. Those are the times when I see (I don't just know the definition in my head) what Christian fellowship and exhortation among the saints are. I see it. All of this due to the short sentence above: It isn't about rules. It isn't. Never has been, even back to Exodus 20. It isn't a secret either. It isn't some brilliant riddle that I uncovered and can now share with you. It is about a relationship. It is about faith. You all know this too. Oh, but how often I forget. What kind of relationship can you have with someone you barely talk to? I persuaded my father-in-law before he was such with just those words. I wasn't wrong then, nor am I now.

third

2009-06-11T19:23:00.002-06:00

Yes, the title is a subtle reference to Ender's Game which you should all read if you haven't yet.

But it also happens to be my third blog of the day. Yes, count em three blogs in one day.

Earlier today I mentioned two different things that I might get back to later:

1. Time travel being Theologically impossible.
2. Fundamentalism preaching doctrines for commandments of men.

Let's start with the first one. As I have not fully developed this thought pattern prior to this blog, you will be seeing the raw product as I work through it here. Though I am not sure there may be much more to develop.

Time travel requires change and flux. And as I sit here thinking about this it seems incredibly obvious to me why time travel is not possible. So much so that to put it into words seems a bit too much. Time travel is not possible because time travel means traveling forward or backward in time. Let me also state that the reason this is a big problem is because of the biblical events. (And I'm beginning to struggle...I will enlighten briefly) No one can go back in time and change history. They can't stop Christ from dying, nor can that event take place again. The same with the future. An unbeliever cannot travel to the future and be involved in or change a whole host of things. My hesitation/struggle arises from the popular views of time travel. That one actually transverses time, and can participate and act within the time frame. What if there are different views of time travel? What if time travel is not a matter of acting but a matter of viewing?

Well, I decided it doesn't really matter. There is no biblical way that anyone (Christian or not), would be able to go back and see pre-Eden, the flood, the tower of Babel, or the cross, or go forward and see the end of time, the 2 prophets, the millennial reign, or the new heaven/earth. Well, anyway, there was very little good reasoning there. I think its because I lack a verse or two. What I know is that it seems illogical for God to allow anyone to see these things. HA! Ending Revelation!! There it is. The verses/theological system.

It is the same reason we don't believe in speaking in tongues. The reason we don't dream or see visions. We believe that all revelation has ceased. Christ came to show us the Father and He sent the Spirit to show us Him. Revelation apart from Scripture has ended. Therefore, for anyone in this present day to go back in time to see Revelation of God is impossible. To go forward and see revelation of God is impossible. Thus, time travel is impossible.....yea? nay? I would appreciate your thoughts on that last part. That is the raw thought pattern. I started completely different and I think, now, that I have finaly come to a conclusion. Revelation being given by God has ceased. Men in this age will not be given more than the Scriptures. There is my time travel theory.

2. I will have to get back to this one. Burn Notice just ended and its on tape DVR or something so I'm gonna watch it and maybe get back to this tonight....possibly tomorrow though. If it's tonight I'll edit. If tomorrow, I'll put a new post up.

what is significant?

2009-06-11T12:22:00.002-06:00

If you haven't been here a while, this is the second blog in one day, and so if you are curious about "the coming thing" then scroll down to the previous blog.

When speaking/thinking within "christian" circles, what is important? I remember living with my great grandparents who I loved dearly, but I remember my mom having to explain to her grandpa why she didn't agree with Billy Graham. He was good when he was younger but not anymore. Where do we draw the line on ecumenicalism? Many in our cicles would want to stay as far away from it as possible, yet we all find reasons to come together for something. Those that won't even come together with us in these areas we label as hyper-somethings because even we who hate ecumenicalism will join together for something. But where is the line of that something? Are they right to avoid our gathering? Are we right to join the gathering, setting aside our differences for one common goal? Isn't that what Billy Graham did?

Yeah, yeah, you aren't going to be standing on the platform with Catholics. But...be careful. My advice, warning, and admonition, is to be careful.

One of my friends let me know there was a big bruu-haha at the FBFI (Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International. . .that "I" seems out of place imo) in April. So one of the speakers, Pastor Dan Sweatt preached about how Calvinism was the bane of fundamentalism. (I didn't actually take the time to listen to it, thought it is online if you want to. I read some reviews of it.) It was a poor, illogical, and slanderous message. There were more than a few people who wrote rebuttals. I read a couple of them. It was assumed that one of the reason it was preached such is because many of my generations fundamentalists are leaving. They see no reason to stay in a dying movement that emphasizes rules over Christ. Whether or not Fundamentalism does this we will save for another time. One of the men who is a non-fundamentalist calvinist is John Piper. Very big name in evangelical circles and has written some good stuff, though I cannot recommend him entirely knowling little about him.

This, seeming plainly obvious fact to many familiar with the situation makes me believe it to be true. And it probably is the reason for Piper's recommendation of Dr. Kevin Bauder's rebuttal of the message.

Dr. Bauder is the persident of a Central Seminary in MN and writes regularly. I am on the mailing list and when I take the time to read the emails I often find them informational and good. He took his regular email and turned it into a response to the message. It rebuked Pastor Sweatt and also challenged the board of the FBFI to make it clear that they are not heading this direction. Dr. Bauder is (from my limited knowledge) a strong voice in the "fundamental movement." He always tends to push towards standing on the fundamentals and not deviating from each other over the doctrines of grace etc. He wants the movement to be open to differing belief's in these areas so that as fundamentalists we stand together on the fundamentals.

I don't know where I stand. I mean, I have seen a good size group of guys my age leave fundamentalism. They grew up in fundamentalism, but apparently it was not the same fundamentalism I grew up in. Whether completely accurate or not, I have a sense of understanding that the old ways are generally better, and a reason should be found to abandon them rather than most of my generation which is looking to abandon all and wants a reason to keep them. Why throw out everything? It is rarely if ever good to reinvent the wheel. Sure, if a spoke needs to be replaced than prove it and replace it. Don't throw the wheel out and then say, "Well, that spoke is ok, and that substance is nice and solid." Bah!!

My generation has seen too many people preaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Too many! But we are running away from everything we have been taught thinking that there is nothing behind these commandments. Don't drink/smoke/dance/theater/etc. Ok, so you can't find these commands in the Bible. But there ARE principles in the Bible that DO require actions or abstinance, and you are throwing it all out.

Perhaps our parent's generation has gone too far. That does not give us excuse to swing the other way.

Back on track....is there a track? Bauder's argument was good. Piper's was short, but approved of Bauder. The next FBFI is the 16-18th in IL. Yes, I did consider going, but I have plans to be somewhere I don't want to be instead. Bauder is currently scheduled to speak, so I am waiting to hear what happens. More of a curiosity matter atm. I am not involved. I am a nobody.

At times I regret that. Writing this blog I wished that I had my MA, ThM, and PhD, and that this was not read by just a smattering of maybe 6-8 people. But God knows what He is doing. When I am unhappy with my situation as such I am complaining against God's plan and when viewed that way, things change fast.

Side note: Michael Phelps' life was Providentially directed by God for him to accomplish the things he did. I remember during the Olympics many times considering what would have happened had his parents not allowed him to swim. Many would not have even thought about it. Not all parents involve their kids in swimming. Even among those that do, it is for a time period and even if asked to compete, for one reason or another they are not permitted by their parents/circumstances. Then there are the other thousands of kids who do and who are not blessed with the physical capabilities God had given Phelps. When I look at my life, what do I see? Some wasted potential here. Some wasted time there. Where could I be were it not for those things? Right here where I am. God wants me in FL teaching at CCS. I don't know why. Its not my job to know why, but to know that that is where I am wanted. To understand that despite what I think my potential is/was, that God has a plan for me and that I need to be content in whatever situation I am in. At the same time, we know God gifts people and expects them to use those gifts. But someone with the gift of leadership who could be a CEO of a billion dollar corp, or the President of the US may utilize his gift by running a mission board, teaching teens, or being a pastor. Just because God gives the ability to run huge things doesn't mean that His plan is to run huge things. Exercise the ability where God places you. End Side note.

Together for the Gospel. The title eats at me. Bleah!!! Yes, it expresses what the goal is, but it sounds as ecumenical as you can get. (Shorter note: One of the reviews I read referenced Dr. Phelps message in the same vein as Pastor Sweatt's. So I listened to the message. He has a problem with the conference, and with Piper. A big Problem.)

The conference (in short summary or long commentary; not sure which yet): Four men of some differing theological stances met together for the purpose of furthering the central theme of the Christianity, "the Gospel of Jesus Christ." They admit they differ on baptism, and charismatic gifts. It is easier to copy and paste the paragraph of the names so I did that below.

"The four long-time friends, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, C. J. Mahaney, and Albert Mohler, also asked their friends Thabiti Anyabwile, John MacArthur, John Piper, and R. C. Sproul to join them for these conferences, since each of these men has been contributing so valuably to the church today."

The website turns me away. The wording bothers me. The pictures send hints of worry. Yet, their doctrinal statement is good. Its problem obviously would be the lack of detail. We do not find a strong Eschatological stand, a church polity/officer stand, an ordinance stand, etc. We do find the Lord's supper/church discipline required. We find the Trinity, the Authority of Scripture, the Incarnation (though not the virgin Birth...implied? or purposefully left out?), the Deity/humanity of Christ, the Gospel as we would define it, the necessity of the local church, the roles of men and women in the church, and Calvinistic theology (which is what bothers some...fundamentalism is falling apart, but people can lay aside all these other problems as Calvinists to work for the Gospel. I see their frustration, though I won't say they are right.)

So, in the end I wonder. Some of our close circle would probably come together with them for the Gospel. Btw, the website is www.t4g.org They meet biennially; the next conference is April 13-15 in Louisville, KY. (I didn't know KY was the abbreviation...hmm.)

If we almost abandoned the first "T" in our distinctives, I'm sure if we haggled over some things we could fall in line with this. The problems to me are obvious.

Any large gathering with men who lead is dangerous. So is any small gathering with men who lead, but you know what I mean. That I think is the more obvious thing. We don't want to idolize anyone.

Secondly, a person's views on truth will always influence their preaching. People will be attending these things with less than their normal guard and since people are stupid and gullible they will be expecting messages about the Gospel. I would not accuse any of the speakers of taking advantage of this, however with their views being different their messages cannot but hint of who the person is. What you believe inside is what comes out the mouth. People will not be on guard and as the differing views will not be blatant they may even go home and propagate them as something good: they hadn't heard that verse that way before. But in fact that verse interprets that way because the preacher thinks there is continuing revelation and that people are speaking with tongues.

I sense danger all around, yet I think warnings are more sufficient rather than denouncings. Am I getting soft? Am I wavering? Someone slap me if I am. Seriously, I need to know. Those 6-8 of you reading this are Biblically responsible in this matter.

Wow....Biblically responsible. The truth project which I discussed a month ago is nearing. I had a discussion with some family about it over the get-together weekend. I had thought of myself as getting careful and possibly wiser but maybe I'm getting scared and spineless. I think I am beginning to fatigue. I don't WANT to argue with someone who is obviously wrong, who will not change their mind, who will redefine Scripture, and twist Christ's words. I don't want that! It isn't just an uncomfortable feeling or a dislike, it is becoming a great distaste to me. As opposed to 6-9 years ago when I would have jumped in unprepared, now I would just as soon walk around those arguing and talk to someone else. What is happening to me?!

I was reminded however that I do not argue for me. Nor do I argue for the stubborn fool. (Fool? Is that ok? I think so...stubbornness is foolish, right? Ah, but foolishness does not make a fool. Fools are foolish, but not everyone who does something foolish is a fool. I should probably retract that fool up there.) Nor do I argue for the stubborn. (The wonders of the English language -- I remove a word and my adjective turns into a noun. Yeah, its not just English, but meh.) I argue for the people around who do not understand. I argue for the ignorant, and the naive. I argue for those who are too gullible. I argue for those who refuse to study for themselves; remaining babes when they should be eating strong meats.

Thus, if this attitude keeps up, the truth project will be fun. I do miss those days when it was fun.

Good to blog again...I may be back later...I am away from home without my wife. . .The first time since our weddiny day that we have been apart.

Darling, I miss you. Have fun and hurry back to me. <3

To the rest, goodday.

The coming thing

2009-06-11T11:50:00.002-06:00

Phones. I think two generations ago they may not have even imagined phones as we know them today. Yes, TV introduced the shoe-phone and there it was imagined, but at my age, my grandparents would not have thought about it. They could not have imagined being "online" on a pocket-size phone. The Internet was new enough. Broadband, DSL, etc. didn't even exist. It was plain old dial-up. And we are logging on with our phones.

And with that attention grabbing introduction I will proceed to talk about the future. (In normal writing it isn't a good idea to point out your attention grabbing introduction...fyi) This is not the pessimistic somewhat dreary future that was discussed not ten days past, but the future of invention. Further, I would like to discuss this with a theological world-view. Because I don't really know what meanings any of you will assign to that, I'll try to clarify that I only mean I will comment on the theological significance of something if it calls for it.

The first problem we have in looking for the coming thing is put simply by Brisco: "If I knew what it was it wouldn't be coming, it would already be here!" We don't know what future inventions and things will be coming. Our (or my) imagination is somewhat limited. We can easily imagine scenarios similar to things we have been shown. Thus, screenless TVs, Virtual Reality, terminator vision (internet/TV/computers in our glasses/contacts), etc.

Time travel has been imagined, but theologically I believe this can be shown to be an impossibility. The very idea tends to contradict truth and absolutes. I won't go any farther with this post.

What of AI? AI as portrayed in many films is imo highly probable since I see no theological reason it could not happen. Recall however that a united humanity as portrayed in Terminator/Matrix/etc is not possible. Thus, though we may encounter AI in a form, it is improbable that it will ever become as large an issue as the above or I Robot.

What about a chair you can sit in that will send impulses through your body targeting muscle and causing genuine muscle fatigue so that "working out" no longer requires working out, but rather you sit down for however long and get up soar. Physically, I don't know if this is possible. I am not knowledgeable enough to know if this could be done electrically, or if our bodies would react right. But it could happen. Seems like it would be one awkward machine since for example the tris are flexed with an extended arm and the bis are flexed with a curled arm. But yes, it could be an invention.

But all of the above have been thought up by someone with a better imagination than mine. I am stuck reading/thinking secondary thoughts. I read fantasy and I don't come up with original. I come up with a copy. Originality tends to be difficult. I don't think that its just me, but I could be wrong.

So, now you are all disappointed because you read all that and you didn't learn anything or learn of the coming thing. Sorry. I don't know what it is. Sci-fi is full of inventions. Are these things the coming things? Or does my generation and the next already understand that though these things are only Sci-fi now, they will (most likely in our lifetime) become reality. I don't know what previous generations have thought regarding their own imaginations, but I don't see a halting to the inventing of what we have imagined aside from the theologically impossible. As we continue to imagine we will continue to invent.

But where do all these ideas come from to begin with? They are imagined by someone. The imaginations stem from something stable and solid that is familiar. This can then be transmuted into something new and foreign yet just familiar enough for belief. Then, eventually, down the road, it is invented. Or not. I'm really not an expert on the subject. Just writing because it is on my mind.

Obviously this is all contingent upon true eschatology. But we all know that.

Well, any ideas of the coming thing? Lmk, I would love to hear them.

Part 2

2009-05-03T18:29:00.002-06:00

Read part 1 below.

So, the evening service was much better than the morning service. We have noticed that this seems to be the case. He also tends to say things like "This might go over your head if you are a newer Christian." These things make my brilliant deductive skills say that he purposefully preaches simpler messages in the morning. Tonight there were many Scripture references, and it was a insightful message.

I have often been. . .intrigued by the fact that the only thing Solomon had to do to get all his wisdom was to ask. James says that that is all we need to do. If that is all that is necessary, why aren't we asking for wisdom daily? Well, I try. I have been praying for wisdom for years....mostly it involves a particular circumstance about which I need wisdom but I pray for general wisdom too. I have noticed some things where I have been given wisdom but it isn't so much what I thought it would be. Wisdom to shut up. Wisdom to listen to older wiser men. The PACEs ask, what is wisdom? Well, there it is. "Shut up and listen." I jest, yet, in that I have learned to be quiet and listen, I have gained more wisdom. God uses methods and sometimes those methods are to listen to wiser people explain things to us. I guess this paragraph is followup to the verses from Proverbs where it speaks of fools talking.

On top of that thought, which I was thinking on the way to church, Pastor spoke of being filled with the Spirit as we are commanded in Ephesians 5. "but be filled with the Spirit." Then he closed with a verse that I have never remembered reading or being referenced (very hard to pull off on me) in Luke 11. After showingthe disciples the Lord's prayer and then telling them to have importunity in all they ask, Christ concludes with: "how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Voila! Right here is pretty much the same principle from James only applying to the Holy Spirit. Maybe it is the smallness of my thinking that likes to point out the particulars that this applies too. But this doesn't just apply to things like the above, but also to anything that God desires of us. 1 John 5: 14-15. So, it was a very encouraging sermon.

I have the seed of a thought in my mind that was supposed to go in the first blog but I just cannot place it. . .

There are 1010 calories in a double whopper with cheese. In case you were wondering. Also, in case you were wondering, I burn approximately 1700 calories if I sleep all day. So, considering I don't sleep all day....meh, who am I kidding? It was still a LOT of calories. It was the Angry Whopper, and it was fantastic. I think though, that I find lots of tasty foods fantastic after eating almost all tuna for a few weeks. I do take weekends off.

I miss Roast Beef/Pork. We haven't had it since like august, and I think last time we were home we may have had Lasagna twice and no roast. =( *hint hint*

I hate walking. . .I need to find an activity that I can enjoy that will be my daily cardio. Unfortunately, we don't know what that is. Yes, we have a pool, but swimming laps in this isn't the easiest and it breaks the first rule: I need to enjoy it. There are ninjitsu classes next door to the apartment. I have thought about signing up. I still want a black belt. In three years I could have one. It just occured to me that that would be a family first...right? I can't bench 300, I don't have a PhD, I can't fly a plane, but I have a black belt.....hmm. Doesn't have quite the same ring, but its still something.

FYI, within the grammatical bounds of the English language, it is possible to use the word "that" seven times in a row. No more. Some of you knew that. Some of you probably didn't.

I think that's it for today...I'm gonna try something crazy tonight: I'm gonna go to bed at 10pm. *gasp*

Goodnight.

many thoughts

2009-05-03T12:37:00.002-06:00

Hopefully I remember them all.

It was a shorter week this week. The kids were off school Thursday/Friday and we had meetings. Thursday was till 3, and Friday till noon. Friday I had little to do so I hung out in Matt's room.

I heard the new X-men was pretty good, but I didn't see it.

In Sunday school today, our teacher talked about forgetting God. It wasn't the whole lesson but I thought about it, and it tends to be much too easy to do. Christianity is about a relationship, but I think we forget that. My wife and I were talking just about friendships in general and how they take work from both sides if there is going to be a good friendship there. Well, we know God is doing his part. Think about it though, those of us who have good friends or try to be good friends, it takes work. It requires that we spend time with the other person. Something that often causes friendships to fall apart.

Growing up I had friends, but how many of them are still my friends? Those that I keep in contact with. I am often reminded by my friends that phones work both ways and that I should call them more often. I feel bad about not keeping in touch with some people. Some I make sure I stay in touch with. Others though, it doesn't matter to me that I have lost contact with. Some we were friends while nothing mattered. We could run and play tag together so we were friends. Then when it came to matters of growing up we parted ways.

You can usually tell someone's friends or measure of friendship by seeing them check the caller ID on their phone and seeing how they respond. There are some people that they pick up immediately and are happy to do so. Others, they hesitate or even ignore it. I know there are times and reasons to not answer the phone, but just watch people sometime. You can tell if they care or not.

Anyway, back on track. We are to cultivate a relationship with God, and we often put that second place to even our friends that we don't quite care to talk to. We make excuses for not reading the Bible, or not praying. We don't go straight to God when we are excited about huge news. How many of us stop our formal "praying" and requesting to just talk to God? We get into the patterns of thankfulness/request, and we don't talk to God. Do we just make request to our friends? Friends need people to listen to them. That is part of being a friend, is listening. Abraham was the friend of God. I'm pretty certain that we could say Abraham did not forget God. Abraham listened to God. There is a difference between listening when being told to do something and doing it, or listening because we care. I listen to how work is going, what happens at church/school, how the little one(s) are doing. . .these are things that don't impact me except that for my friends I care about these things. It matters to me, because it matters to them. I appreciate and admire the things my friends are able to accomplish. Do we read God's Word letting Him speak to us? Do we see what matters to Him, and does it then matter to us? Yes, this applies to how much God hates sin, and so should we, but also, when God says creation is good. Can we look at it and agree, and admire what He has done?

Well, that was a long windy trail.

Side note: Wind. Did you read something like "The wind blew in the tops of the trees." Or "Please wind the clock." So above, was it a trail with gusts of wind? Or was it a trail that wound back and forth through the trees?

On to the morning service. More verses of Just as I am than I have ever experienced in my life. All standing with our eyes closed, and the way this church works, one person is up front singing the invitation. So, he sang through the four verses, then the piano played through like 4, then he sang them again, then the piano.....it went on and on and on. Apparently, a little boy went forward to be saved, and instead of taking him to a room to talk with him, they handled everything right then and there. Praise the Lord that the boy got saved. It is encouraging to see that, and we have seen many baptism services since we have been down here and that is great. But. . .yes, I hesitated to put a "but" in here at all with someone getting saved, yet here it is, but 15+ verses of an invitation with us all standing there and our eyes are supposed to be shut....that's not called for.

Oops. I read the church constitution this week and it turns out that as a member we are not permitted to have any criticism pointed at this or any like minded church or pastor. No criticism pointed at any pastor. That seems very....unamerican. ;) Maybe that is our American freedom saying I can say what I want, but it is also my Borean sense saying I'm going to analyze everything that is said and I'm going to point it out to my wife/friends/kids(eventually). Criticism does not necessitate slander/gossip. The church constitution and bylaws are pretty interesting. We don't know if we will end up here or not. It is one of the hardest decisions I have run into. Where to go to church.

Part of my difficulty comes in my faulty memory. I have been in many churches throughout my life. I don't know what has been the deciding factor in going to each of them. I wasn't old enough to give input or care. I went to church. I was a good boy. But why my parents chose church A over B I do not know. And I never learned what were the deciding factors. Of course, part of that reason is because there isn't a perfect church, and God leads different people different places. First Baptist wasn't perfect when we attended there. Still wasn't up to the split. But we attended and served and were blessed by God there.

Is Grace perfect? Is the new church in VA (can't remember name)? These are new churches with all the promise of the future? What does it take to make a church worth attending? Again, that differs for different people. I had a hard hard time with attending a church with an armenian pastor. Most the pastors out here dont claim that title, but they wont claim Calvinism either. Music is a Biblical part of worship, so when music isn't the best how does that rate with a pastoral staff that got the church in debt? Isn't the church leadership supposed to be wise financially? What about a pastor that seems to take good conservative stands because they are good conservative stands and not because he knows why? What about a church that stands for the right stuff, but seems a little overboard about it....like singing the Old King James song. (I did not hear it, but I heard of it from someone who was there.) What about a church where the constitution is Baptist in word, but goes on to define elder rule. Of course, that was the one principle that the family almost rejected our Baptist heritage for last Christmas, so that can't be bad. What about when 1/3 of the church is the Pastor's family. Is that bad? Our family was all over at Immanuel. Thus, my dilemma.

We got to Sunday School, and were the only people in the classroom at 9.30 (the start). The teacher (Pastor's son-in-law) showed up a few minutes later, and then the next couple was his sister and her husband. Then the Pastor's son and his wife. And then one other couple. Last week, there were about 18-20 in the small room because it was the last week of the Sunday School campaign. I don't understand those things to be honest. I go to church because we should be in church. Not because my team will get more points. I go to church because my spirit can feel the parchness when I'm not in church for a while. I didn't use to get that feeling. When I was young it wasn't the same.

We are going with my aunts and uncles to see the new Star Trek next week. Hopefully it is as good as its hype.

My wife makes the most delicious stir-fry. I love it.

Church is 40 minutes away. That makes for 6 long trips a week, and lots of gas. But, I have travelled longer to church before. At the farm it was an hour to Wealthy, and in WI, it was 20-25 min to Church. The church has soul winning on Thursdays and Saturday mornings. My parents used to go...probably the biggest impact on my life as far as soul-winning. If my parents had never gone I don't know what urge I would have in me to do it. I know its right, and I know I should, but that's just mental knowledge. Besides, what is another couple hours at home? Really....anyway, we don't go now because we aren't members and we can't make the time on Thursdays. Next year I hope to not have the library job and then we should be able to go. I'm sure it will be easier once we do it regularly.

So, the school here is doing the truth project. They do it with the seniors every year, and they have sessions each semester and each summer with it. It is 13 sections. That is 1 hour a week for 13 weeks. Onec you say you are in, they expect you each week. Well, my principle announced that if we haven't done it yet, we are expected to either this summer or next fall. She said she should have put it in our contracts. Well....its going to be dinner conversation with a bunch of different denominations on things that I have known for years. There is expected to be discussion. Now, let me explain. I don't discuss hardly anything with adults at the school. Maybe that is a fault. But I have not blacklisted myself yet. I am quiet and contemplative. I see the strong Catholic regularly, who, if I am not mistaken, would be happy to "discuss" why he is right. I really am not out to argue with a Catholic.

The most I come to talking with anyone there about anything meaningful is the librarian with whom I have discussed some things, but generally in less detail, and almost always holding back my full argument, but not so much my side.

I don't want to go. I don't. Matt hasn't gone yet, but he may get it over with this summer, leaving me to handle it alone. It isn't like a class where I am going in there looking for a grade. Or where in I won't see these people again. I work with these people everyday. I do not want to humiliate them, nor do I want to argue stubbornly for no reason. I think I have matured enough to just drop it.

Mrs. Coney wants me to come out of my shell though. That is her job.

A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
And my favorite:
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

If you can keep your mouth shut you will be judged wise. In knowing that, there is true wisdom in not spouting everything you know or can say. What good comes of me condemning everyone in a room? None. Indeed, that would be harmful to them and myself, and prove me the fool.

I have been in contact with MBBC regarding what is necessary to finish my MA. After hearing some more things about the college, and then reading about it I have decided against turning it into a 10 year track. The professor needs to double check, but I may just have 4 credits left, at the most it would be eight. If it is four, 2 will be very easy to finish and the other 2 will be a pain. If eight, I will take a course starting in July, and the hardest part will still be the 2 Greek credits I need.

I am trying to lose weight so I look good for the wedding that is coming up. Its working a little bit. I have four weeks left. I'm back on my (yeah, you guessed it.) tuna diet. I do tire of it occasionally, but I can make it just four more weeks. Of course, they changed the amount of tuna to water ratio in the cans. Instead of 2.5 servings its just 2 servings which means I'm really eating less calories/protein than I was/wanted. Plain old white bread is not that good for us but its the cheapest so that's what we have. I can feel the difference when I take my Creatine 1.5 hours before I work out. I was taking it after because I think that's what the bottle said but I read its actually better to take it before, and I feel a difference in it. That's always cool. I'm not sure honestly if it helps so much as just gives a good feeling but the feeling is encouraging enough to keep it going. So it could be psychological help instead of phsyical help.

Well, I think that covers quite a bit. I'm sure there are more thoughts out there. How people can behave in certain ways towards their family baffles me. How "friends" aren't really friendly. How apparent it is that some people are only convenience friends. How life is not necessarily easy. How good God is. How wisdom and worry are related. How finances always seem to trouble everyone and I just don't get it. How insurance is not a must-have these days. How faith in God makes all the difference in the world, and we all know it, but don't have it.

Anyway, there were some bonus thoughts. I will see everyone in under a month. Can't wait. Oh, and I should have 9 MTG decks....maybe 10. :)

why did I do it?

2009-04-03T15:00:00.002-06:00

I don't know.

So, in devotions during the professional day today, OBG was going on about some stuff Marx, Darwin, and Freud had said. See, Darwin says we are animals, and Marx says we are economic units, and Freud says we are lost children.

So, Luke 15 says we are like lost sheep (Darwin), and then we are like the lost gold coin (Marx), and then he stops and says "Does anyone know what the last parable is?"

Now, despite the material above the question in the title refers to what happens next. I answered the question.

Why? I don't ever answer the questions. I think its some kinda training from being around ignorant people too much. We were told to be polite and not answer everything. "Give other people a chance." That was good teaching. I understand the principle. However, I think there was a side effect, that is, that I still tend not to answer questions.

But today I answered. My wife says that perhaps I am becoming more comfortable here. Perhaps. I have been here most of a school year. Then again, I really don't know even half the people in that room. I could name what most of them teach, but not even all the subjects, let alone their names.

Then my wise wife asks me why it bothers me that I answered the question. I don't even know. It was not my norm, but that doesn't make it bad. I am however curious what would drive me to do it. I did not think about it. . .I didn't even give it the customary waiting period for the rest of the class to answer before I would answer again. I just knew the answer and said it. I think it bothered me that I answered without thinking. It wasn't that I didn't think about the answer. . .not at all. He said Luke 15 and I thought "I don't know what that is." He said "lost sheep", and I was bothered by the reference to Darwin, lost coin, and Marx. . .I didn't even draw the parallel to Freud before I recognized the son. It contained no thought. And that I think is the problem. I didn't think.

Anyway...I thought it was worth blogging about...the abrupt ending is because I had to quit and now just finished...les than two months.

2009-03-30T15:57:00.002-06:00

I have been contemplating keeping a journal lately. And you are probably thinking, "Why Dave, you already have a journal in this blog."

Ah yes. But I have been finding that I have been having thoughts I don't particularly care to share, yet feel the need to write, rather than have them tumble through my head.

That thought in particular is somewhat troubling, because for years I have told my life story to a large number of individuals without holding much back. It is not that I have had just a "few" confidants per se, but several people who only had to ask to ascertain the state of my affairs.

(I am sad to say it was not so easy for my parents to find out about me. . .why, I'm not quite sure, but I'm guessing it had to do with being thought foolish, or hearing "parental advice" rather than friendly advice. . .the more I think about it, I was probably fooling myself into thinking everyone else was less judgmental, when in fact my parents were only trying to help me and the others were judgmental behind my back. . . . . .I'm not accusing anyone, nor denying that I have done different. Just thinking back.)

two sec, brb.

So, why is the thought above troubling. . .which thought was it? The one where I had things I did not want known. It is troubling, because I consider myself open to discussion and willing to be proven wrong. . .yeah, yeah, I'm stubborn, but my tenacity (which I prefer you use to describe me) does stem from more than just arrogant pride. Further, my blog has not only been my journal but also a sounding board to those who I truly trust to hear wisdom. I am blessed to be able to pick up the phone and call almost a dozen people who I trust on Theology, Life, and if need be, video games.

Moving on. It is my birthday. ty ty ty.

I became extremely saddened today because I had been extremely anticipatory. brb again.

Anyway, as I was saying, I have been waiting for April 7th (Jenn's Birthday) because The Wise Man's Fear was supposed to come out then. This is the second in a series I started this past year. The first of which I left in MI and am now somewhat regretting because I would read it again I think.

I did get to read some of Rothfuss' writing today when I visited his blog. He is witty.

Back on track, the book has been postponed again. Almost every bookstore and online shop has it listed as April 7th still, but today I saw a little hint that it might not be out, and so I called B&N to see if they were getting it, and they said in the fall, or next spring. . .So, bleah!

Well, my wife made a fantastic meal tonight, and we are going to have cake later. I should get going. Can't wait to see you all in 2 months. Bye!

Verve?

2009-03-17T08:46:00.002-06:00

So, I got this email asking about my blog. Apparently, there is this site: http://www.verveearth.com/ where they are linking blogs from around the world. I think the goal is to be able to visualize the similarities, etc. of people in many different cultures. I went for it. I am signed up. So, that's the little link below my other links.

I enjoy blogging. I enjoy writing. I wish I had more productive things to write about sometimes, but meh.

For some reason the DMV site isn't working for me to make an appointment online. Comments online say its horrible if you don't have an appointment....I will keep trying throughout the day to make one....otherwise, I will probably be sitting there for hours tomorrow.

I realized the Verve thing is kinda like a marketing tool too. Do we have this inert desire to be heard? Do we think our thoughts are really that important that others should read them? Why not import to FB if I'm adding it to a world wide blogging scheme? But I think there is some difference. This was marketed to me more like a project to visualize blogging everywhere. I didn't see a problem joining this project. I don't mind being helpful.

For those of you new to the blogs, some of the family has been blogging every now and then for a while. You can generally find links to their blogs from other familys blogs. I however do not have the links to those blogs. Maybe one day I will put them up. Until then, ask around, or do some seraching here. There is enough info on my blog to get to all of them, but that's work too.

We are going to go shopping today. Not for a long time of course, since I don't like shopping, but for a bit. I would really like to get a desk, but that is kinda on the side since we are saving for tickets, and loan payments, and a car, etc.

The car is really going to hurt our savings. The more frustrated we get the more I decide I'm willing to spend. Of course, we still have it...I'm not getting a loan, but we will have less in savings than we were planning on.

We are going to do down stairs now. Not as sunny today, so I'm not sure if we will sit by the pool or not. Still in the 70's though.

back again....im on a roll

2009-03-16T11:02:00.002-06:00

So, I decided not to port my blog into FB anymore. It just didnt feel right. So, if you really care about my thoughts and life, you have to come here. hahaahahaha

Anywya, it is spring break. I slept in till 10am. I ate a cookie for breakfast. I soon after had a piece of pie. I spent time looking for cars online, and I played computer games. Now I am sitting by the pool in 80 degree weather with my wife. . .I love vacation.

Yes, I do have things to get done this week. We have been looking for a car since mine died again yesterday. Frustrating state of affairs, but better to have it happen on spring break when I have time to look than not.

It is hard to look, because I can drive out to see a car. I am quite confident I can make it. However, I am NOT at all assured that I will make it home. The car runs in shifts. 45-60 minutes is all I expect out of it. Then I need to let it sit for at least that long again. If I don't, and if I drive and stop, drive and stop (like shopping) I am almost sure it will die after say an hour.

So, I'm searching Craigslist again. There are more than a few that look like good possibilities, but again travel is too far to trust my car. Which leads me to believe God doesn't want me to have one of those. There are a couple that look too good to be true. And a couple that I have sent emails out asking questions. So, we will pray and see what God has for us.

I find I enjoy Bible study immensely. I struggle with deciding a topic/book to research/study. I have always done that. In class, I my hardest task was deciding the passage to exegete, or the topic to pick. Once it was done, the paper came easily, and the process was simple.

This is I think my big draw to debate. The topic is given me. In many cases it is a topic I would have never imagined I would debate. It is not something I would sit down and research because I think it is too obvious. However, if I were to write a systematic, then obviously I would have to think about it since it would require an indepth study of "everything." But with debate I can argue something I have never argued OR I am extremely versed in.

2 lines of thought tug at my brain. I will follow the first. . .I think.

I absolutely hate the idea of being wrong. Not for my pride so much as I am so scared that sometime I will be too arrogant to see the right truth. I have seen people argue (as I stated last time) things that they would never say thinking from their Bible background. But get a new thought in their head, and they veer. I am SO scared of that. This is one of those things I pray and pray and pray about. I remember my first real debate. . .I stayed up nights praying that I would see it if I was wrong. Where am I wrong? How can I be wrong? Am I right? "Open *my* eyes." I tried not to pair my prayer with stubborn ignorance. I researched the other side; I did my legwork. I wasn't going to stand on what I thought just because my pride required me to. The people I was arguing against I had a great deal of respect for. But as they unfolded their arguments for me, I saw less and less Scripture and more and more human reason and justification. Now it sounds like I'm boasting. . .I'm not. I'm writing to explain my fear.

I do seriously fear being so stubborn just because I am. I fear not listening to a valid argument because of who gave it. I think, I have been taught to respect people, and listen to what they have to say and not judge them based on who they are. Now, certainly it is right and logical to understand where a person comes from and what basis they apply to everything before accepting their statements, but even Catholics have said good things. Its just not all good.

I had a SDA come to the door (this is a while back.) He wanted to be my friend. And I asked him how he got to Heaven His reply: "By faith in Jesus Christ."
"Why must you keep the law?"
"Because we are told to."
"What happens if you sin and then are killed instantly?"
"Well, then I would go to Hell."
"So, are you really saved by grace through faith?"
"Yes."
". . ."
See, he had the right words, and wanted to pray with me and all that but c'mon, he didnt really believe what he was saying. Obviously, you need to understand that people need to clarify. Some people however are wrong and say the right thing, and in a large group of people, it is better to grant weight to what they said that was right then to rip apart their other words. Well....my thinking is off-track and I'm beginning to wonder if this last part even made sense, so I should move on.

When arguing against something that "seems" wrong, it is necessary to determine if it really is. *Don't* go with your gut. Instead of thinking, "I was brought up kowing more Bible than this person will probably ever know and therefore my instinct is more correct than his thought process," Confirm the truth. If you are right, praise the Lord. If you are wrong, make sure to be clear headed and humble enough to see it.

That brings up another point. Don't be so dependent on your parents for doctrine that you can't think for yourself or are afraid to go against them. Not only have I seen the arrogant refuse to listen, but I have seen the parent dependent refuse to veer from their parents "beliefs" for some fear that they would be disrespecting them. Parents arent perfect. So, make sure you believe what you do because you belive it. On the slight chance that you can then speak to someone else's parents, and change their mind, often the kids will cling to the first opinion because the second tends to prick them about the fallibility of their parents . Bleah I say. Grow up.

Well, I want to keep typing. But I've been sitting in the shade so I should put some more sunscreen on and go back to the sun.

I hope to hit 210 4x4 this week. We will see if I can get into the gym though with the school being closed.

I'm in a blogging mood, and there is lots more I could say, so I'm sure I'll write again later this week.

Addendum

2009-03-09T18:59:00.002-06:00

Addendum after reading Turretin (one of the few books I took with me). Fourth Question, page 596 "Venial and Mortal Sin". Now, the current discussion does not involve venial vs. mortal sin, but it is here that we find Turretin's information on what we are discussing.

Notice: I referenced first at least half a dozen passages in my previous blog, and then lead to someone else to show Tradition/church history also agree. But Bible came first. If you missed it, please check them first.

We find Turretin brilliantly stating that all sin no matter what sin it may be deserves death. He references Rom. 6:23 (1), Ezk. 18:20 (1), James 2:10(3), Gal. 3:10 (2). He further uses logical references and the character and holiness of God and His glory (5).

He then goes on on page 599 to say the following and I quote: "His [Christ's] design is indeed to show that there is an inequality of punishments from the inequality of sins and in particular that homocide does not consist only in the external act." He goes on to speak in terms of "degree"s of sin, "more serious" a sin, "heavier or lighter" sins. This from the words of Christ, and he continues to prove that Paul speaks of heavier sins.

To be clear, Turretin was not arguing our argument. But he assumes the degrees of both sin and punishment, and makes it very clear. One last quote for tonight, speaking of sin Turretin says on page 601 XVIII: "Indeed it is proved that some are heavier or lighter than others (which we do not deny)." Yes, every sin's wage is death. God however is not in anyway inconsistent with His character by punishing sin more or less severely. Neither is He inconsistent with His character by rewarding people differently (which we know he does: 1 Cor. 3:10-23). I reference Turretin because I know I am a "nobody." (Plenty of people seem content to point that out, not realizing I understand it as much as anybody.) I know that my arguing doesn't seem that way, but even in knowing that fact it doesn't stop me from being 100% sure of what the Bible says. We don't need "somebodys" to tell us what God's Word says. That defeats the purpose of me being a Holy-Spirit indwelled Christian. But in the end, if we know what is right and true, then there will be "somebodys" that agree with us, and it isn't wrong for us to bring that up either.

Dum duh dah DAH!

2009-03-09T16:29:00.004-06:00

So, I saw a little button to transfer my blogs to Facebook everytime I blog, so in the future this will be occurring in both Facebook and my blog. For those on FB that are new to my blogs, my blogs are my journal. They are not pointed at anyone, or some backhanded way of hammering someone. It is my only type of journal, and it just happens to be online for others to read. Comments are welcome. . .I anticipate if there is debate it will most likely be on Facebook, but I will try to keep up with comments on Blogspot too. Further, I often just write as I think. It can be random or succinct. When I argue it generally is not a solid thesis, although at times it goes that way. Just to prepare those who are new to this. Lastly, even though its my journal, I try not to blatantly pinpoint or demean people. That is never me intention. I have at times had to be more reserved then I wanted. Part of me tells myself that you guys don’t have to read it, and part says people will read this, and so its better to be prudent. All thsa said, here is the blog: http://unintriguing.blogspot.com

I suppose some intro is in order since I haven’t blogged since December. But meh.

I've done some thinking lately. A lot.

Something I've considered before. What do we consider devotions? Reading the Bible and praying. That is good stuff, but how often do we "read" the material and not remember a thing we read? How often do we read only a chapter? Yes, you can do devotions reading only a few verses.

Anyway, all my thinking has lead me to a couple conclusions. We can't stop reading the Bible, but we need to do more than read it. Our churches are ignorant of common "Sunday school" knowledge. We need to read the Bible to learn the stories. We should know who betrayed David, and who went back to counsel Absalom. We should know "common Bible knowledge." This is the stuff on the Bible trivia cards. This is stuff we SHOULD know. This is God's Word. This is reading to gain information. With the Bible the size it is, we want to read enough so that the entire Bible becomes familiar. We want to recognize any passage. We don't want to come across passages and say "I didn't know that was in there." or "I forgot about that story." So we read the Bible for facts. Reading it through twice a year takes about 30 minutes a day (If I recall).

Well, that stuff is not spiritually enlightening. Those are facts. We need those, but we need to have more. We need memorization. We should be memorizing the Bible regularly. We had a speaker in chapel that asked anyone saved for over 4 years to stand up. Then he asked you to stay standing if you could quote a verse for every year you have been saved. Almost the whole place sat down. Now, he was clear that it wasn't a sign of anything except, that those claiming to be Christians don't even know what the Bible says. Memorization should be another part of a Christians daily practice.

Well, honestly, we aren't just talking of memorizing a verse a week, we are talking about being serious with God's Word and memorizing it. When I did quizzing I read the passage 3-4 times a day. I averaged 30 minutes a day on quiz material. It was not for doctrine or for study, I was trying to memorize.

So, we are at an hour in the Bible a day, and we really haven't had a time of study where we are applying ourselves to hear/see what God has for us. Yes, God can speak anytime we open the Word, but there is a difference between applying ourselves to that purpose, and applying ourselves for the purpose of memorization, or learning facts.

Study is the third step. Study study study. Go through a book, and outline it. Prep messages. Go through each verse. Look at the author, and the audience, and figure out the context. STUDY. Maybe study what you are memorizing, or memorize what you are studying. I'm sure there is a way to combine these. However, an hour and a half is not really that long to spend in the Word. The study is vital though. It keeps us from droning through the passages we are reading as *I* (to my shame) often do.

There is some of what has been on my mind.

This next part stemmed from some talks, that flat out left me discouraged. I talked with someone here at school. I heard a message. I talked with a couple cousins. My phone died or I would have called you too Joe. Anyway, it was somewhat discouraging.

I understand that we are (as a majority) unlearned. I understand that we stand on the shoulders of great men, and that we cannot claim truth just because they have come to those conclusions. It is our job, to analyze Scripture too. We are to pray for the eyes of our understanding to be opened so that we have an understanding of great truths. We can stand on what these have done, while at the same time holding forth the truth as our own, as long as we actually own it.

What does that mean though? To understand and believe a truth because *I* believe it? I don't think its anywhere as hard as some make it. I don't need a vast system to hold to the truth. I don't. I need the Spirit of God within me. Is there only one truth? Yes. So, what happens when I come across someone who disagrees, then we meekly, and boldly discuss our differences and humbly admit when we are wrong. We then correct our view and go on. So, something that has been undecided through all of church history. . .can someone come to a conclusion on that today? Yes, because the Spirit still is at work, and people are still being taught what is right. None of this negates the virtue of good research and hard work, but Scripture stands without a man-made system or without a tradition behind it.

I am at this moment convinced without a doubt that there are degrees of sin. One of my bigger hesitations for a bit was that degrees of Hell/punishment do not necessitate degrees of sin. I thought it did, but there was some hesitation. However, when I used that to argue for my position the response was not my fear, it was instead that there are not degrees of Hell. I have an extremely hard time when we argue without Scripture. When we argue using our definitions, and when we use our history, and our theologians and our systems and traditions it weighs on my soul. I almost reposted a 3 page paper on our last little discussion, because there was not enough Scripture there. I find that when I quote Scripture and cross reference things, I am looked down on because I have not cited someone, or multiple some ones. I also know, that it is not purposeful. I doubt any of the people I debate would thoughtfully be bothered that I quoted Scripture, but in truth, sometimes people are.

Side note: Now the argument here is that anyone can throw Scripture around. And that Scripture can be used (incorrectly sure, but can still be used) to argue anything. Yes, and no. We should still START with Scripture. Scripture is still the only thing that matters in the end. If you start arguing with tradition/systems, I don't understand that. . .at all. A few times lately, I have seen debates/discussions completely lacking the appropriate amount of Scripture.

Another side note: I have seen a lot of desire for ingenuity. This desire tends to mix with a need to be consistent with tradition. This creates systems that do not fit logically. This ingenuity is forced into a system that cannot hold it. And rather than seeing that the system no longer fits the mold of Scripture, the system is utilized. So that in points and practices we fall outside the mold. I wish I could easily transport graphics into here.

Example: A picture I've used before and I have found useful is to picture a box, kinda like a puzzle. When we have our theology lined up correctly then we are perfectly whole in the box. When we get new ideas or change old ideas they either correct or deform our view. If we were in the box then now we are sticking out somewhere, and lacking in another area. If we were not in sync maybe we are now. When we take a system of ingenuity and run with it because it is grand, we are like the puzzle worker who sees a new piece that fits old one and starts dismantling his current perfect puzzle to fit more pieces onto this new piece. Instead of realizing he is destroying his work, he only sees all the new places he is going. Often times, we don't even see where we have gone.

Side note continued: I have had people redefining the virgin birth, redefining total depravity, redefining redefining redefining. And I sit and am literally speechless. (hard to happen to me. . .but happens more and more.) These are people I love, questioning things I have taken for granted that we hold in common. And at another day and time, they will be in 100% agreement. It is just at this time, they started with a new piece and dismantled everything they ever believed. If I (or anyone) had come home from college with the argument I've heard, we would have mocked the professor and quite possibly called him a heretic. And here it is. . .

Away from my side notes. Here is some Scripture. If you got lost in the notes, read before and then jump down here.

Degree of punishment. Matthew 10:15; 11:22, 24; Mark 6:11; Luke 10:12, 14; Hebrews 10:26

Degrees of sin. John 19:11; Matthew 23:23; Ezekiel 8:5-16 (not the best example)

This is from a Bible concordance/internet search. Much I was trying to recall "just how that verse actually was phrased" so I could look it up. I was planning on Reading Turretin last night, I will at some point. Most my books are in Michigan so forgive my lack of sources. Really, I do know how to use them. There are people who have grown weary with all my sources, but that is neither here nor there.

I'll argue more or not. . .I don't know. I love my family, but sometimes we are too smart, meek, proud, humble, ignorant, ingenious for our own good. Pick one/all.

Note again: Oh yeah, I hear my blogs are like boring books where I just ramble a lot. If you find that is the case there is no need to read the posts. You are welcome, but like I said, its just my personal journal that happens to be online.

Lastly, the title is the noise you hear when you pick up the triforce in Zelda. (at least. . .one version of it.)

Grace and peace to you all.

quick thoughts

2008-12-17T19:24:00.002-06:00

Alright, some thoughts provoked by another blog I read (http://eruntalon.blogspot.com/2008/12/little-rant.html)

Can movies and/or video games ever successfully be titled "Christian" with our standard of "Christian" behind it?

At the moment I am thinking "no." But that depends largely on the purpose of such. If the purpose of a movie is entertainment, then I don't want to watch "Facing the Giants." I am not entertained. I think it is a script which I could have written. Nothing surprising, and no sweet screen shots. However, looking at the story from a point of meaning, there is meaning. There is principle there.

So, do we watch movies for meaning/principle? Sometimes. Braveheart. Yes, it is a fantastic movie for many reasons, but I can't watch that movie without feeling saddened by the betrayal, and the broken-heartedness. What about old classics? Star Wars? We don't watch it for principle. We may draw principle from it, but it is entertainment.

Of course, everyone draws different things from different movies. I don't understand why girls would want to watch a movie they know is sad, that is going to have them all crying in the end. BUT they get together to watch it anyway. So, we all watch movies for different things, and from that perspective, it is possible to have a "Christian" movie.

Video games however are pure entertainment. Of course, they are becoming more and more of other things. Anyone seen the new cooking commercial for the handheld something (psp, or NDS). But still, video games are for entertainment. So, what is a "Christian" video game, and how do you win? By getting the most sinners into Heaven? Sounds Catholic/Pharisaical to me.

Anyway, there are my thoughts. Let me know what you think.

Merry Christmas to all, and happy new year. (Since I probably won't be back to blog in quite a while. . .just in case: Happy Valentines day!!)

Peace

does it really matter?

2008-11-05T18:10:00.002-06:00

Yes, it does. But in what view? The micro view to be sure. How far out do we have to zoom to realize the unimportance of this election? Not too far I think.

God sets up and takes down. We know this. God punishes a people by allowing their sin to abound. America has been asking for God's judgment for a LONG time. So, disappointed? Yeah, I am. But I'm not too terribly shocked. We made it through Clinton. We did. I remember the elections and the voting. What I don't remember (probably because I was a kid) is anything that happened in those 8 years. I remember fervently, praying that he would get kicked out of office. I remember checking the votes on the TV every break in school. . .but do I remember a thing Clinton did? Nope. The joy of being a kid.

Of course the story is different now. I have my own place, my own family, and I will end up dealing with everything that happens. Such is life.

School is school. It is somewhat frustrating when I have so much to do and I can't get it all done. On the other hand it is extremely gratifying when I can get it all done, which I did today. ;)

We are looking at this other church. . .doctrinal statement is good again. So, we are looking at at least 3 independent kjv baptist churches with good hymnals within 20 minutes of us. So, this isn't like seeing horrible things and then settling on what fits. We have real options. So, we are still praying.

I got a key to the gym, so I will be trying to work out regularly now. I'm excited. I miss it.

I should go now. . .not getting any more typing done. Peace.

Oct 31st.

2008-10-31T18:54:00.003-06:00

The new bond looks cool. Its weird that they moved the release date back. We were well aware that it was coming out on the 7th since that is Kaylynn's birthday, but now it is out on the 14th. Not a big deal though.

School seems busy. I took a day off when we had Josiah & Karleen down. It took me almost all week to catch up with the grading. Stats kids were way out of hand the other day. I sent three to the office. /shrug. Gotta do what ya gotta do.

They asked for handouts, and maybe that is a good idea. I can give handouts. It will be more work each week, but I can do it.

I had lunch duty again this week. It is annoying for a few reasons. 1. I can't go home for lunch to see my wife and Will. 2. I have to watch and pick up after disrespectful kids who should know how to throw their trash out. 3. My prep time is disrupted. I like to use lunch period to prep for the class immediately following. It is harder when I'm sitting at a picnic table away from my desk.

I haven't picked up my Java since the last time I blogged. Company and school have kept me preoccupied. /shrug. I can see how getting an advanced degree with a family is very difficult.

On that note, MBBC is offering an M. Div. now. This is the degree that is waaay better than what I was going for, and would be more widely recognized. My credits will of course all apply. I believe I have 32, if I figure correctly. The downside of course is that the new degree requires....wait for it......96 hours!! doh! That means a lot more credits. I took about 6-8 per semester while I was living there.

Options:

1. Move back and finish working fulltime and going to school fulltime. bleah! The thought of living in WI, the thought of cold (real cold), the thought of working a poor paying job supporting a wife, and possibly some kids (well, we are talking the future here) while attending school fulltime. bleah!!

2. I could take 1-3 online classes a year; depending on what they offer, and depending on the money issue. That way, we stay whereever we happen to be; I just take some classes in addition to work. In addition, MBBC offers module courses. These are courses where the entire classroom period fits in one week. The three papers and test, then get mailed in, up to 9 weeks later.

3. I don't need to finish with an M. Div, and then I can just finish what I have via internet/module.

I'm guessing 2 is my option.

I would like to be back in class. I miss the classes. I never thought I would say that, but yeah, I do miss the classes.

I want to argue something. Not as in the common connotation of argue. I want to present logical thought-out argumentation that someone or something is right and someone or something is wrong. I want to be dogmatic and sure. But, here, I'm not met with anything. . .sure the music is dumb, and the kids are brats. The most theology I talk about is dumb little stuff in the library. bleah! bleah I say!!

Every now and then I talk to someone on the phone who has something. . .but not often enough.

Mike V told me he was going to call to talk about "nothing." That was two weeks ago. So, here I am not knowing anything about "nothing."

I need to argue fundamentalism or versions, or calvinism, or redemption or SOMETHING!!!

Anyway...I can't even think of anything to just argue blindly here. I can argue when something makes me frustrated/mad. But I can't sit here and type out a arguement for total depravity when I have no source to direct it at.

I need to exercise my brain. I can't write much more notes for a book that I have no sources to cite.

Idk, maybe I should try to start an exegesis of a book. Just work my way through little by little through each verse/chapter/etc. That's probably a good idea. I probably won't do it either. Oh well.

Parents will be here in the morning. Exciting. Its nice having family come to visit. Its nice having furniture for them to sit on too.

I should go...cake and ice cream sound good.

Peace.

redundancy

2008-10-21T18:26:00.002-06:00

I find that I like to use some of the same phrases too often. I borrow from Hamlet. . .I like when I think in similar terms. I like thinking in terms of Shakespeare, Twain, Dickens, Turretin, Whitaker, etc. I wish I did more. I don't read enough to keep my thoughts like that. I try.

Every day at school the Bible teacher runs some copies of the crosswords out of the daily paper. So, Matt sat down and grabbed one one day, and so I did too. (Things like that are always better with someone to compare notes with.) I came home and told Kaylynn and within a few days we had a website ( http://www.boatloadpuzzles.com/playcrossword ) that had 1,000s of crosswords. So, after a week or two we got a book, and now we do crosswords, about everyday. Of course, the ones online have a lot of repeats. So do the ones in the paper. It is good for me. Ever since watching my great Grandma do them over and over I have thought about how good it would be for me. . .I'm glad to have finally started.

I miss blogging. But I can't blog at school, and that is when I have the most time. I would like to blog more though...

I have been reading my Java book again. Of course, my free time is all at school after class. And I can't fit the book in my bag, so I don't spend as much time as I would like reading it. I would like to read all sorts of things.

I started an idea for a book. I have a few pages of notes, etc. I want to write. I think I can. . .but I need WAY more research before the book actually goes. That means I need time and access to a library. I started reading some ideas, and read that one of the most important facets to writing a book is to be consistent. If I write one page a day, then within two years, I will have a book. Then editting, etc. While this might take a long time, it also seems it could prevent getting discouraged. I have often gotten discouraged when I would try to do something. I would try by scheduling lots of time or effort to something to finish it in like a month or something. Too much work, and not enough time always meant that I didn't finish.

So, I start again. This time I think I'm doing better. Except the research part is a HUGE snag. I don't have time for research. I don't have easy access to a good library. Which means, even though now, I may have a good plan, and a good outline, and some good starting notes. I don't have a personal library large enough to do this. I know PhD's with enough books in their personal library. I don't think I will ever own all the books I know now I need to reference, besides all the books I'm not even aware of yet. Phooey.

Students talk about WoW. Steve and Tim and Matt and I talked about it a bit this past weekend. I asked Matt if it made him want to play. I don't think I miss it. But I do think I miss something about it. It isn't WoW I miss. . .maybe its the social aspect. Maybe its the running the guild. Maybe its the fact that the things I was doing I was good at. I played through Diablo a few weeks ago. Several times. I played a mage for the first time. I enjoyed it.

What now? What more should I be doing? I'm working on a book (maybe.) I'm trying to read regularly. (need more variety in reading though). I'm trying to learn Java (still.)

God has blessed greatly in the last couple months. Free: bed, dining room table, 4 chairs, office chair, card table, couch, reclyner, two TVs, 3 end tables, 2 dressers, 3 stools, 2 mirrors, shower curtains, bath rugs, 2 lamps, book shelf, microwave, and probably lots of other stuff I can't remember. Amazing. We have so much far sooner than I anticipated.

We are trying to be content, and when looking at God's blessings, it isn't too hard.

Church shopping is interesting. We have been to a couple KJVO, Independent, Baptist. Doctrinal statements all right. But the one pastor is quite arminian in preaching (seems to think he is responsible for getting people down to the altar.) The other pastor seems shallow, but it might just be this series. We are leaning towards the latter for a few reasons, one of which is that I am sick of the arminian stuff.

We both miss friends and family. We have a busy couple weeks coming up. Siblings here tomorrow, and parents in a week and a half.

Planning/living with a budget is interesting. . .anyway, my time is about up. I got stuff to do and the battery is low....hi to all.

I try to call now and then...but you can call to. Don't forget it: friends/friendships take work. Don't let them go to waste.

Peace.

our new place

2008-09-11T19:35:00.004-06:00

Address was here. . .Then it was removed because I don't really need any stranger happening by to see it. Call me if you want it.

We are 5-10 minutes from Wal-Mart, Save-A-Lot, the airport, Work, Bank, etc etc.

Not much more to say really right now. peace.

to blog

2008-09-10T19:02:00.002-06:00

I have thought about writing some short poetry lately. . .but the kids in Matt's class have been coming up with some "ok" to deep stuff. It makes me not want to, because instead of just letting it flow, I would be trying too hard to make it fit. That isn't the type of writing I need to do. I don't write for a living, so I just write what flows.

Class is weird. I am making tons of mistakes. I am learning lots.

I have had very little parent interaction. Which somewhat scares me. . .I have caught up a lot with the "teaching" and kid interaction, but parent stuff I know I don't know how to do.

Watching movies with some kinda swear removal is weird. . .especially when even the taped TV versions have some kind profanity in that silent moment.

Jenn blogs regularly. It is great. Keep it up. Btw, we are happy that things are going better. . .very happy.

Although, all the boy comments are interesting....but I think in the end they make me happy too. Just be careful. I don't want to have to tell Micah to take advantage of his security job to take care of some kid. ;)

I would recommend buying the Name of the Wind. Thanks to Matt for the recommendation.

The new MTG set looks cool. I have seen some cards I would probably play. But, you know . . . when you spend 30 minutes during class breaks to look at a budget, MTG takes a back seat...to a great many things. I guess growing up has to happen some time....when you get poor.

I talked to the gym guys (don't know their names yet). They said I could get into the weight room early on school days if I wanted. I plan on lifting again, starting in a week or two.

I'm fat.

My wife makes the most delicious cookies. WOW! mmMMmm

I wish I could blog at school...It would make it easier.

Anyway, I need to go. Have a good night, and weekend. Remember, if you want to stay in touch with people, or be friends, you have to work at being friends, and have to call them. . .don't just expect them to call you.....I'm trying to remember this, and slowly making the rounds. But, if I get swamped and forget this little piece...CALL me. Peace.

Life at school

2008-08-16T07:43:00.002-06:00

Life is weird at school. Lots of business and bustling around and I just feel bored. I don't have a classroom to decorate. I float around three classrooms. My Stat kids will be in a math room, but my Algebra, and AoF kids will be in Spanish and History/Politics respectively. /shrug. What can I do? nothing....

Anyway, the people are nice. I have already been offered a bunch of other part time jobs, like substituting and after school care. Both of which I have accepted after a few days of thinking and stuff. Apartments are a little more than we anticipated. And that is if those are available. . .otherwise they will be a lot more than anticipated. If I figured right, without the substituting we should be a little better than even. If I can sub even two days a week, that will be great. Of course, at first I doubt that will happen but later in the year.

Matt consistently reminds me that I have not blogged. Its easier for him now when he doesn't actually have to comment to remind me.

Jenn blogs a lot. Good job Jenn.

I printed up the monkey problem for my algebra kids. I'm thinking it will be extra credit later in the year. We will see how the class does.

My AoF class has 21 kids in it. My stats are 19. And Algebra is like 15. Figures, the easiest class is the least kids.

Sounds like we are almost ready to go apartment shopping so I need to go....

Peace.

thinketh no evil

2008-07-29T23:50:00.002-06:00

So, I have this friend that is going through a really hard time. Lots of stuff in her life that is just not good. It doesn't make sense. One thing after another. She is sweet and kind, and extremely patient. We wonder why this stuff keeps happening. It has been going on for over a year, and it has been very very hard on her.

Sometimes I catch myself wondering, just wondering, if maybe she isn't doing right. But then I remember. . .

There is nothing in her life to make me think she is in sin. She has a good testimony, and continually seeks Godly counsel. She is patient, and very prayerful.

So, who am I to say that she is lying to me when she says, that she is right with God? Who is anyone to tell another Christian that they are lying about their relationship with Christ without any known and habitual, unrepentant sin?

Any persons relationship with Christ, is between them and the Saviour. So why do we have so much gossip/tale-bearing/assuming about people? I have had talks for a couple hours and gotten back and thought "wow. . .was that talk just gossip? How much of that was really necessary to talk about?"

Especially in my family and extended family. . . .it just seems its so easy to make everyones business our business. Is it really my business what is going on with cousin X?? Now if he/she calls and tells me and spills the beans . . . but then, what right do I have to tell the rest of you? Is it really your business?

My conclusion, is that we lack charity. I think many of us could have come to that conclusion anyway, through different channels of thought, but for me, today, and for the last several weeks/months, it has been because of all the evil we think/say regarding people. Maybe it isn't "murder and blaspheme" evil, but we don't think good about them. We assign them bad motives, and attitudes for things we make excuses for.

We used to have this saying around the house when I was younger. It was always something to the effect that each person needs to ensure they are doing right and not wrong, because that is too big a job for them, and they don't have time to worry about each other. . . .it is still true.

I don't have the time to worry about any of you. . .My fault list is too long. . . . . .

2008-07-29T12:54:00.003-06:00

So there have been comments (literally here on the blog, and others) about my last blog being published out of guilt....uh, no.

It is not a contradiction to say what has previously been said, and to say that sometimes it is fine, and right to miss church. Yes, right.

Everyone that might read this knows this. If you are puking with the flu then don't go to church. Agreed? ok, so there is my point.

Now on to other things.

Speed of service. It is the little things that matter. I know everyone rushes around like crazy when we get a $15 order to ensure it goes out in 2:00 or less. But seriously, what about that 1 medium drink order? or that 1 Jr.? The rush isn't there, because we all know that that order will go out in well under 2:00, and without work will probably be around 1:30-1:40. But that is the mistake many make. If you work even on the orders you don't think you have to, then you end up with no a 1:40, but rather a 1:10.

The 6-7 minute orders are sometimes (rarely, but sometimes) unavoidable. This means that no matter what you do, the car is going to take as long as they please. But, if you work hard on those 1:10 orders, then your 5-7 7 minute orders will average out to under 2 minutes. If you don't work hard then your average is not dropping. And you end up with a 3:00 and you show up poorly in the daily/weekly SOS numbers.

My crew works hard, and so we are coming in 2-3 in the entire market. . .the other managers don't like me too much.

Do any of you care about this? probably not....but hey, I blogged.

taking church for granted

2008-07-23T21:33:00.003-06:00

So, how many different churches have we all been to? How often do we sit and hear a message and think, "I've heard that before." How easy is it for us to say "I'll just skip this week/service." Do we forget that there are people who walk miles to get to church? I think we do. I think we take it for granted that we can always go to church. Church will always be there. If I miss a service, that isn't a big deal.

(There are the people who only go once, twice, or three times a week. And they are happy with that. They feel no need to go to that fourth service. Church isn't that important to them. (Even as I type my thought process is interrupted thinking "Christ died for the church!!! Of course it is important.") So, where is the level of church importance?)

But there is the other group...today's group, the group I fall into on too many occasions -- those who go to church and are willing to skip, don't get anything from the sermon, and hope the power goes out, and that half the people say they are sick, take the overtime, etc etc etc.

What is church? If it is the building, and the social club, then, yeah, miss church. If it is the nice songs, and the proper place to be, then yeah, missing one out of four isn't a big deal. But let's just say for a minute something else. Let's pretend that church is where we go to worship almighty God. This is the Christ that when he said "I am he," His would-be captors stepped back and fell down. If Christ died for this, where should we be when the doors are open? Are churches full of hypocrites and wolves? Yes. Does that change the fact that Christ died for it, and we are there to worship Him, as commanded and taught? no.

What else is church? Preaching. So the pastor has a style you don't like. . .is it God's Word being preached? So the pastor does dumb things (and yes, some pastors do dumb things), is that a reasonable excuse? Let me ask, if the church never sings your favorite songs, and the pastor always makes stupid jokes, is it then ok to skip?

When I was at MBBC, sometime within the first or second month of my first year, I read this morning/evening by Spurgeon where he spoke of always being ready to attend God's house. That no matter what the preacher spoke on, the believer should ALWAYS come away with something, because it was the Words of God. But I think Christians are lazy.

We leave it up to the pastor to try to come up with something that applies to us. So, take a very small church...like ours. With 13 people (give or take some kids) who will 99% of the time be at every service. Now tell Pastor he has to come up with something that will speak to all of them. And for any other church that task becomes exponentially harder. So, we are lazy. We don't come into the house of God ready to worship, and glean, and think. We come in to be spoon fed. And then we say, I had that last week.

Every message where the Word of God is opened and faithfully (key word here) proclaimed
has truth for EVERY believer. It might not be that special word of encouragement that you needed in your dire hour, but there IS something there for you. The question is, do you get something every time? And if not, who's fault is it? The preachers? Not if God's Word was opened. Is it the Holy Spirits? He just didn't apply it to you this week. Obviously not. If you get nothing out of a message it is because you were not prepared to be in God's house.

Unfortunately for us it is that simple. We can't blame the pastor. We can't blame God. So, yeah. . .yeah, it is a struggle sometimes. Yes, it can be for weeks in a row, but that doesn't ever give anyone the right to be lazy. That's all it is. . .everything takes work. You can be the hardest worker at your job and still be lazy. Hard work applies to everything, not just a job.

Lesson number 2.

Look not every man on his own things, but everyman also on the things of others.

The things of others. How different life would be if we practiced this! Would it not? Not on our own things. . . . . . .Tomorrow at lunch sit back and think about what has absorbed your day thus far. What have you thought about? What have you done? Has it been on your things? Or the things of others? That is a convicting verse.

theology, politics, computers

2008-07-06T11:58:00.003-06:00

It has been about two months since I last blogged. Two months. A lot has happened since then...sorta.

Anyway. I like theology more than politics, and politics, more than computers.

Theology. I love theology. I would love to teach at some Bible College. I could do it. I can teach all sorts of classes. I just don't have a PhD. Which, do I need it? maybe. BJU? bleah. But maybe. I was asked the other day if I was interested in pastoring a church that was without a pastor. I was kinda surprised. I had to say no, because honestly, at this point I am not called to do that. But, could I? Am I capable? I think so. Yes, there are lots and lots of things I don't know, but my doctrine is pretty solid. My logic is generally good. I am doing better with my people skills. One of my biggest weaknesses would be ignorance. I can't pastor now, and don't have the desire to, atm. I would like to teach though. Even when I was at MBBC I talked about reserving a room, passing out fliers, and holding a Bible preservation seminar. It wouldn't be near as informative, nor detailed as my Uncle's, but I'm not just repeating empty dogma either. I lack info, not the reasoning behind what I do have. I don't know. Life goes on.

Politics. I enjoy reading the old American political geniuses. I could study their stuff and learn waaay more than I know now. But that takes time, and effort. Then end result would be running for public office of some kind. Governor, Senate, President. . .who knows.

Computers. Not what I want to do the rest of my life. It is cool stuff. I can enjoy it. It isn't bad. I need it right now though. I'm stuck without a place, and without a job. I'm grateful for my parents generosity, but who wants to spend their married years living in their parents house. What parent wants their married kids to live in their house? I need my Computer degree now. . .and I need it to get me a job.

The problem is, what do I, in my limited time read? Do I read Hamilton because I want to learn about politics? Or do I finish Whitaker? Maybe I just finish Shakespeare because that is reading I enjoy? Since I STILL do not knnow what I am supposed to do when I grow up, how am I supposed to plan? Well, right now, I should be getting certified. So, my reading should be for that (which it is.) But then what?

Maybe that will be the rest of my life. Trying to do right one day at a time, because I don't know what is next. I have always liked to plan waaaaay ahead. Maybe this is a trust exercise for me. Maybe I won't know what I'm supposed to do until it comes up. God has given me a understanding mind in many areas. I understand and like math, physics, chemistry, English, etc. With a little work I can pick things up. . .I just wish I knew what I was supposed to pick up.

Maybe I'm too lazy right now. Maybe if I knew what it was I wouldn't be so careful to try to study. Maybe I have no discipline.

Well, the fourth was this weekend. It was fun as usual. I'm sore. We played VB a few times. I didn't do to hot. I hate that I'm outta practice. I did really well out at school, and here I got schooled. Oh well. Football was fun too. Missed my brother though. Magic was good. Seemed like we played less than normal. It was ok though; wouldn't have hurt to play more either, but it worked out.

Matt's story looks good. Although I would really like an ending to the first one. Even if it is just one paragraph. The kid ends up being bad and dying, and there is a war and no1 ever sits on the throne. Something like that. . .maybe?

I should go. Want to sit by the pool or play more cards. . .we'll see.

It was good to see everyone. really good.

fundamentalism

2008-05-08T17:43:00.003-06:00

To put it bluntly, if fundamentalism does not have scholars, then it can expect to see its credibility and following erode. Without scholars, fundamentalism runs the risk of being dominated by demagogues and pontificateurs. Without scholars, fundamentalists will not be able to answer the current questions or even to defend their own distinctives. People will have to look elsewhere for intellectual leadership, and they will inevitably transfer their loyalties to whoever provides that leadership.

We need scholars. We need Christian scholars. We need fundamentalist scholars. This is not to say that scholarship is more important than other callings. But the consequences of not having fundamentalist scholars will likely be far more serious than the consequences of not having fundamentalist mechanics or bakers. Somehow we must find a way to encourage scholarship within fundamentalism." -- Kevin Bauder

Maybe this is why so many "Bib-stud" students at MBBC are deciding not to be fundamentalists anymore. I kept hearing over and over and over about these guys who were tired of fundamentalism. When they questioned it, they were given stock answers that made them question even more.

So, is that the problem? We lack scholars? Perhaps. Who are the "big" names in popular theology today? Piper? MacArthur? Others. . .yes, I know few of them. Others know many of them. Then we start looking at "scholars" in particular fields. Greek -- Aland. NT, others. History -- Others. They all have their own specialization, and all know many of the people in their field.

But what about fundamentalism? Do we have anyone fighting for us? Not, do we have scholars in these other fields, but do we have scholars fighting for fundamentalists? I wouldn't know it. But then I'm out of things. I'm not really sure how to even get "in." Oh well.

How do you get to be a scholar if your occupation is different from your scholarly pursuit? If I become a software developer, my research time will need to go into keeping up on my studies, and the new technology. When am I supposed to read all of Whitaker, Turretin, Fuller, Hills, Kuyper, Muller, and Pickering? The frustration of not having the adequate time bothers me. Aside from trying to reach some knowledge upon my particular topic (textual issue), I also have other reading I wish to pursue. . .bah!!!

Well, I need to write another email. . .so, I will log for now. Have a good night.

been too long

2008-05-08T12:59:00.003-06:00

Well, here I sit again (back home at my old desk, with one monitor). . .I'm supposed to be studying for a phone interview but I've been doing that for over an hour now, so I needed a break.

Last time I blogged I had 50 days until my wedding. Now I have been married for 13 (counting today). It feels good.

So, what's going on in my life? That's what you all came here to find out isn't it? Well. . .

I'm back in Michigan for a bit. We are staying with my parents while we try to figure out the next move. I walked into BK and got lined up for a second interview tomorrow for management. I have had 4 different store managers at this store. The second one, who also probably did the best job, is back. We got along generally, so I could probably have the job if I wanted it.

After I got home I got a phone call from a possible job in San Diego, CA. I had an initial interview right then. That went well, so she sent me a test. 4 programming problems in an hour. I finished that Tuesday evening and sent it back. Got the results yesterday. I scored well with one of their toughest graders. So, now I have another phone interview this afternoon. The stuff she sent me to study (which is what I was doing before I started blogging) is stuff I have never looked at or cared about. So, now I'm worried. If I pass this interview they fly me out there for an openhouse next Wed. Then if that goes well, I have to work Thur and Fri. If that all turns out, I get offered the job. whew!

So, now I study to see if I can pass this afternoon test. If I don't I still go to BK to get a management job for a temporary income. If I get it, I forget BK and hope my time out in CA goes well.

We are praying that I just get whatever job I'm supposed to get. This company is not a place I would have chosen to work if I had been the one to choose. However, it is the furthest I have gotten in my search. I put several resumes in with some very respectable places. . .but I probably won't get in there, until after I have worked in the field for a 5 years or so.

Anyway. . .moving on. My wife and I have both been sick this past week. Honeymoon was good, and then we got bad colds and sinus problems the week after.

Wedding was beautiful, imo. But many others second that opinion.

My Uncle Pete does such a good job. But what I enjoy most is that he enjoys it. He is truly happy, and his smile is genuine. It makes for a happy time. I was glad for everyone that was able to make it. Hadn't seen some of you guys in some time.

It is really nice to see people truly happy for other people.

It is nice being out of WI. We haven't missed the constant stress and worrying at all. We talked to some of the kids earlier. Things aren't going so well out there I guess. Apparently the Mr. and Mrs. . .dad and mom? Greg and Belinda? anyway, apparently they are in depression. . .probably worse than if Kaylynn had died. They won't stand up to sing hymns in church and stuff. . .the kids are embarrassed, because they are acting like old people.

No one had to be escorted out or locked in a closet at the wedding. That's always a plus.

Josiah asked me if I was still doing push-ups. Expected my dad to ask me before anyone else. Anyway, I need to start doing them again. Should do situps too.

I'm probably gaining weight with no job and consistent meals.

I would like to start lifting regular again. Maybe I'll just run down stairs and use some of the stuff we have here. Just to get started, and get back into it.

I should get back to studying for this interview soon. I was nervous about this test because I haven't done anything like this and it has been a while since I programmed. But then it looked easy. The only problem was trying to remember stuff I hadn't used in a while.

Now, these questions aren't even on my list of all the stuff I need to study. So, that list has gotten bigger and I have gotten more nervous.

There is a Bible conference down in GA starting Monday. I wanted to go, but didn't realize it was so soon. It is being offered as graduate credit. One final and one 15 page paper. Easy 2 credits.

Pete is brainstorming about a website for the Textual debate topic. He wants to start another institute, beginning with this website. I was asked to be the site admin once the site is up and running. I'm excited. We have tons of details to work out and everything. . .about a lot of stuff.

He's hinting towards further degrees again. He's not pushing like he used to though. . .and tbh, as much as I find the regular brainwashing of students disgusting, part of me still wants to keep going so I can get another degree. . .after I finish the one I'm working on. We will see where the Lord leads. Any school I look at says my degree was pretty much wasted and I need another ~6 years work before I start my PhD. BJU might let me start as soon as I finish what I have. Would I rather have a ThM from Calvin, and a PhD from Westminster? Sure. . .but its me, lol. I'm not going to be in full time school for another 10 years. pfft.

I sent a resume to FL to see about teaching math in a Christian school. It was kinda out of the blue, but the thought was exciting to me. Doubt it will really work out, but it opened a possibility in my mind that I hadn't considered in a while. So, now its open.

Keep praying we will get a good job where God wants us to.

I don't really know if I should even take this management job here in town. I feel like I could be gone in two weeks. But I might be here for 3-6 months too. bleh! Only God knows.

Hopefully Memorial weekend will be fun. I haven't seen Mike and Em and Alice since I've been back. . .there is a problem there. If I move to CA, we probably won't be back for the 4th this year. Definitely Christmas though (Lord Willing).

I need to go. Hopefully people will start blogging again.

the long awaited. . .

2008-03-06T13:03:00.004-06:00

Escape from Orgrimmar

Yes that's right!! Its here. Check it out -> http://www.myndflame.com/Movies/p803_sectionid/3/p803_fileid/141/p803_js_on/1

Not nearly as good as the first. . .figure they only finished it because everyone was pushing them too. . .still, it has its funny parts.

So, yeah, no1 blogs much. Jenn does an ok job. I'm pretty busy with wedding stuff. And I spend my other free time working on learning Java, and studying computer stuff. It gets boring, but I try to stay with it. I've been missing WoW a bit lately. Mostly the guild running, which is ok I guess since that can't pull be back. If I missed playing I might be spending my money on it again. . .and that I can't afford right now.

50 days till the wedding. Then I can get out of here. YAHOO!!!!!

Miss you all.

is this where i blog?

2008-02-22T11:25:00.002-06:00

http://isaacandteraragan.blogspot.com/

That's the newest family member blog.

Congratulations to Matt on his baby boy!!

I think I have carpal tunnel.

The wedding is 9 weeks from tomorrow.

Plans are moving along. . .somewhat slowly at times.

Things got better with Mr. O, and seemed to backtrack again. I'm not sure where they are right now. /shrug

We are both ready to be married and get out of here.

Not sure where we are going yet. Still praying for a job.

Need to go. . .I wish I had more time. Maybe next week. or never.

busy

2007-12-18T11:57:00.000-06:00

I know I'm busy when I don't make time to blog...well, maybe. ;)

Check this out. . .The Hobbit, 2010, and 2011.

hahahahah

2007-12-14T17:51:00.001-06:00

I "found" an extra $300. Amazing! Just the other day I thought, "how is the money going to turn up this time?" And well, here it is. It doesn't ever just drop out of the sky. But kinda. It is a blessing.

I will find out Saturday night if I need everyone to start looking for a job for me. I'm guessing the answer is yes though.

Miss you all. Cya soon. . .except Matt. . . . . . .rats! I miss you man. But its all worth it. :)

Merry Christmas to all!

favour and grace

2007-12-13T17:16:00.001-06:00

Genesis 39:4, 21.

Joseph found grace in their sight. He found favour.

I never really thought about this in any present day situation. But I've been in jobs (my current one included) where I can only say that I found grace in their sight, or favour. God is good.

No matter what. You guys know we are going through stuff, but God is good. We appreciate your prayers though. Keep praying. Saturday might be hard again.

blog already

2007-11-30T17:16:00.000-06:00

Why isn't anyone blogging?

Well, Mike is working third shift and going to school. And trying to stay awake and texting a lot.

Joe is without internet, moving to VA, and busy with the new life of an airplane mechanic.

Matt is waking up early, traveling an hour to school, teaching school, then staying late for basketball practice, and then traveling and hour home. At which point he tries to see his wife and sleep.

Jenn. . .really doesn't have much excuse. She is online plenty and she's coming to MBBC. So, why she doesn't blog more, IDK.

Me? Meh, I go to school, and work once and a while. I spend my evenings online, answering questions, or e-mailing, or job searching, or blogging, or doing greek at my desk, or other homework.

So, yeah, (aside from Jenn) I understand why people aren't blogging. It makes sense. I'd still like to see it though. I like to hear the wit/thoughts/lives of everyone else. Even if you can't blog, you could at least comment on other people's blogs.

We got through my module this week. It was good. I got stuff I need to get accomplished on Monday. I need to get myself a planner that I make sure to check every morning. And keep with me throughout the day.

It is supposed to snow/rain/sleet Saturday night. I hope it doesn't. But, my hoping doesn't usually accomplish much when it comes to the weather.

I need to go again. hope you all are well. Only a few more weeks.

Praise the Lord

2007-11-29T19:02:00.000-06:00

Over the last two weeks through a few different means, I have gotten an extra $1,000. God's goodness is amazing.

We are supposed to get snow and then sleet Saturday afternoon and into the evening. I usually go somewhere Saturday evening till late into the night. Maybe I'll bring clothes to change into and sleep in my car if it gets really bad. We'll see. Of course, I would like to be able to just sleep in the basement but how dare I suggest such a thing.

I need to go get some work done. I'll be home in under 4 weeks. I'm so excited.

praise

2007-11-26T21:09:00.000-06:00

So, when you hear someone say "Praise the Lord!" what comes to mind? The 100's of times you have heard your unsaved co-workers take the Lord's name in vain in exactly that manner? What do you do when Christians say it? I heard someone say it the other day. I was completely shocked. The person knew exactly what he meant, but I was unsure if he meant it as he said it or had to think about it later. But at the same time, I just had a confusing situation I wasn't sure about with my credit card be taken care of the way it shoulda been and it wasn't me. The proper response had to be "Praise the Lord." or "Thank God." Which, when I was telling my roommate is what I said.

But think about it. How often do we as Christians shy away from correctly praising the Lord because the unsaved have taken that praise and perverted it? Maybe its just me. I've heard so many people say it about the dumbest things it has driven me crazy. I half-jumped on the Christian I heard say it the other day. Because, in MY mind, that was not something worth being thankful for. How foolish of me!!! Everything is worth being thankful for.

So, I think it comes down to attitude again. Just like prayer. People praying in church; is it vain repetition? or is it true prayer? Depends on their heart for them and yours for you.I can say the same words every week if I truly mean them and am praying them. Or I can change it and speak wonderfully and mean nothing by it. So, if the snow falls and you say "Thank God!" Mean it, and praise him for the snow. If you have been praying about your money situation and God provides in ways you didn't expect, "Praise the Lord!" and mean it. He deserves it. But don't say things you don't mean, ever.

That's just free info anyway. Don't say things you don't mean.

I'm engaged. I'm so happy. I gtg. peace. (That's anther one. It is "ok" to wish peace to friends and family. True peace comes from God, and that is what is meant. Same as saying "have a good day." If I mean it I should say it.) Peace be to you.

W00T!!

2007-11-26T18:35:00.000-06:00

I'm engaged!! =D

Flow chart

2007-11-23T22:28:00.001-06:00

Too bad how often that fits. . .good thing is, I don't have time to follow this very much anymore.

Oh, and I got their blessing. Took 2 hours of talking (er listening on our part) but we got it. Yay!! I'll call you all sometime. Hope you had a good thanksgiving and have a nice weekend.

happy thanksgiving

2007-11-20T22:38:00.000-06:00

As I get ready to go to work in 15 minutes, I just want to say, happy thanksgiving to all those I won't see during this weekend. (Which is most of you.)

I am thankful for good friends and close family. That's all you guys. Thanks.

I won't be working anymore this week after I get out of McD tomorrow morning, and school is closed, so I won't be blogging. Hope you all enjoy your festivities. Remember, only 4 1/2 more weeks till Christmas. I can't wait to be home. =D 10:43pm.

So, here I am

2007-11-16T17:49:00.000-06:00

So, I'm out of money. Plain and simple. Gone.

$500 into my car since coming out here. And the guy tells me my rear brakes will cost me another. . .$240+ labor. yay. $300 more bucks . . . my dad says that for every $500 into a car it should last another year. If I can be done after putting this $800 into it for a solid year without much more than normal upkeep I'll be happy.

It always seems like when things seem to be going well spiritually, that things stop going well temporally. I mean, I've been trying harder lately.

I'm often being impressed upon (by my gf) to just stop worrying and trust the Lord. And so I was thinking about that. I didn't really think I was worrying. I was calculating. I can't find any possible ways for the funds to show up. And then it kinda hit me. . .isn't that what it means to trust the Lord? If I can see where the money is going to come from then I don't need to trust really, because I can see it.

Now I'm sitting here with no idea where I'm going to get the money for Christmas presents, a trip home, fixing my car, a wedding, etc. I am still looking for a better job if it should show up and I'm trying to be content with the job I have.

I don't like asking for money. Its hard for me to take other people's money. Why? When you watch old TV shows, the problem is always someone is too proud to take the money. I don't quite see that its pride. . .I mean, maybe it is, and as much as I try not to take it, I also try to be grateful when its given.

Topic change.

"For the brightest students, academics can become a kind of game. For average students, it is very serious business."

I got a newsletter thing from someone recently and the above quote was written.

I understand that the ability I have comes from God. It isn't anything in me that makes it easier for me to do Greek, or type out a paper in a day and a half. But this gift has bred laziness in me. I have taken advantage of it, and thus not put myself fully to my tasks.

I find there is sooo much that needs work in my life. And if I try to work on everything I can feel overwhelmed. At the same time, I don't know how to not work on everything because there is no excuse to say, "I'm not going to work on that sin, and I'll work on this one." But, wow. . .I guess its just another thing that says "You can't do it. Go to God." Because, I can work on one thing at a time. But I just get exhausted.

Topic Change.

I've been looking for a job. I was on the MI state website the other day. I need to take the civil service exam. That is the start I need. Then I can start applying and stuff.

But, Kaylynn hates the cold. It gets into the 40s and she freezes. I don't know how she has survived in WI for the last 20 years. She doesn't like it. I don't particularly like the cold either. I don't like it as warm as she does, but there is a medium between tropical island 83 all the time, and MI/WI freezing winters. Of course, if we lived in MI we could keep the house warm.

Where do I want to live? Well, MI is still my preferred place, if I could find work. And good work. If I could work for the state it would be fine. Good benefits/pay, etc. Of course, whenever something happens to state budgets someone gets cut. Both my uncle and my dad hear about it.

A tropical island would be cool to live on too. But I think my reasons for wanting to live there aren't the best. The warm/nice weather. The ability to say "I lived on a tropical island." My future wife would probably be warm.

Ok, I think I need to take a civil service exam of some kind...but, I really have no clue. There are half a dozen different exams on the MI.gov site and none seem for the IT job I'm looking at. Entrance level of course.

What can I do with my degree, but teach? Right? What does a Bible degree do for me? My computer degree doesn't do much since I don't really like programming.

It isn't likely I can get a good job without having a degree in something, and everything my degrees are in I can't get a good job. I look at some stuff and see, MA, or MB, or PhD. A year ago I was thinking I would get my PhD so I could say I had it. Now I'm thinking I should get something to use it. Bleh! What a waste was CMU! I should have gotten a degree in business.

I sound pretty gloomy. I think my desperateness is good though.

My roommate isn't online so, I can't chat with him like I would normally be doing right now. bleh!

Big pre-school thanksgiving thing in the little gym tonight. Caused us to close the gym, weight room, and aerobics stuff. College students weren't terribly happy, but I liked it. ;)

I'm thirsty.

I need to use my money wisely.

If I want more money I better use my few pounds I have now wisely. Oh great. . .I might have to take down the chairs from the kids thing. . .I caught the dinosaur. Or did I not catch the dinosaur?

I need to get some reading done so I'm gonna log for now. Hope all is well with you. 8:53.

Maxims

2007-11-12T17:36:00.000-06:00

Despise not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs.

Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought.

Wisdom in the man, patience in the wife, bring peace to the
 house, and a happy life.

A fool must now and then be right --- by chance.

He who has a good wife can bear any evil. 

A fool in his own house will not be wise in mine.

Use your wit as a buckler, not as a sword.

White ants pick a carcass clean sooner than a lion will.

The wise man has long ears, big eyes and a short tongue.

Wit without discretion is a sword in the hand of a fool.

They who make the best use of their time have none to spare.

To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.

You must judge a maiden at the kneading trough, and not in a
 dance.

Step by step one goes far.

Hasty judgments are generally faulty ones.

Talking comes by nature, silence by wisdom.

What ardently we wish we soon believe.

Let no man value at little price a virtuous woman's counsel.

Wit ill applied is a dangerous weapon.

More have repented of speech than silence.

A foolish man diligently advertises his own folly.

Books give not wisdom where was none before.


And what started it all:


It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims.

My girl

2007-11-10T15:45:00.000-06:00

She is worth it all.

I have been going through a lot of ____ lately. Most of you hear about it here and over the phone. You guys have been encouraging, supportive, and thought provoking, and I appreciate it.

At no point do I want anyone to think I wouldn't have done this if I had known the trouble, or that I regret any of it. I don't. She is worth every bit. (no, none of you have implied such, I just want to make it clear.)

She is amazing. I can't begin to describe it. I prayed and this is who God gave me, and I am still in awe. So, yeah, there is a lot of stuff happening that is bad. It is annoying, aggravating, irritating, irrational, hypocritical, and often unscriptural. But she is 100% worth it, and I'm grateful for her.

politics

2007-11-08T17:14:00.001-06:00

Now, I don't know much about politics. I don't claim to. But anyone who watched The West Wing would know some obvious things. Things that you could get without watching it if you just thought about it. . .like not having your veto overturned. Seriously.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/08/congress.water/?iref=mpstoryview

So, if the president makes the mistake of vetoing something that has that much support. . .I mean it wasn't even a close vote. They flat rejected the veto. So, I guess we shouldn't be expecting Bush to get much done. . .like we were anyway?

He has 1 year left. . .1 year. When I think about Gore or Kerry being in charge, I can be happy about what has been accomplished concerning the war, etc. But on the homefront. . .nvm.

So, I used to dislike the news. . .I still do largely, but I think I dislike "TV news" and not the actual news. I get news headlines from CNN, Fox, Drudge, NY Times, Reuters, LA Times, etc. Yes, still about half the time the article is pointless, but among all of those I can usually find "real" news. And that I think it is important to try to keep up on.

Yellowstone is again filling with molten rock. There is no guesstimate of how long that happens before it subsides or erupts. So if you're planning on seeing Yellowstone, do it quickly and hope it doesn't erupt while you're there.

California is suing the US regarding emission standards from cars, etc. I'm pretty sure the correct term is suing although they aren't doing so for money. Just to get permission on something that has been rejected. Suing gives it a more publicity I think though.

My gf brought me dinner. . .she's the best.

I need to go do homework. ttyl.

correction

2007-11-06T17:08:00.000-06:00

My dad's grades did NOT drop. It was just a couple of quiz scores. Just thought I'd clear that up.

Aristotle once said:Dignity consists not in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them.

So, basically I can be dignified. heh. Its kinda funny that I should find that quote today, while I am considering my B's. But alas, I must move on to other things.

I'm preaching tomorrow. Pray for me please.

Hosea 10:12.

Sow to yourselves in Righteousness.
Reap in mercy.
Break up your fallow ground.
Time to seek the Lord.
Till He come and rain righteousness on you.

I am feeling good because I'm feeling so unable. I am nervous and haven't done this in a while, and its a scary thing handling the Word of God. This is all driving me to pray more about it and I'm grateful for that. But now I need to go. ttyl. 5:22

remember remember the 5th of Nov

2007-11-05T19:23:00.000-06:00

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

The rest goes like this:

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent

To blow up King and Parli'ment.

Three-score barrels of powder below

To prove old England's overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

And then long time ago, there traditionally was another verse:

A penny loaf to feed the Pope

A farthing o' cheese to choke him.

A pint of beer to rinse it down.

A faggot of sticks to burn him.

Burn him in a tub of tar.

Burn him like a blazing star.

Burn his body from his head.

Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.

Hip hip hoorah!

Hip hip hoorah hoorah!

Anyway, perhaps its time to remember the 5th of November and blow up Old Main, er I mean. . .nvm. ;)

Guy Fawkes and other Catholic conspirators if you didn't know attempted to blow up the houses of parliament on Nov 5th, 1605.

Things to blog about. . . . . . . . . . . . .I'm busy getting ready to preach on Wed. Maybe tomorrow night if I have time I'll run through a brief outline of my sermon. Pray for me. It has been a LONG time since I've preached and I'm also swamped. But I shall persevere. Right?

Gtg get a drink and work some more on my message. ttyl. peace be to you. 7:34.

phooey

three wishes

stuff learned

generosity, family, and my selfishness

a short story

More

streamlining a little

baby, church, doctrine, and more

the gifts and calling of God

music

church decisions

friends, pride, family, debate, emotions

backlogged

part 3. . .

Stubbornness and ignorance and . . . rhyme?

part 2

long time ago in a state far far away. . .

Addendum

complicated stuff

because I lack imagination

always stuff

2009

more and more

update

TR/KJV argument. . .as clearly as I have ever done

forgot

i want to blog -- be warned, this is 6 pages long

miracles

quick update

again

more links for writers

more

parents

A couple links

summer time

pride

Spoken to Americans

Fundamentalism

third

what is significant?

The coming thing

Part 2

many thoughts

why did I do it?

Verve?

back again....im on a roll

Addendum

Dum duh dah DAH!

quick thoughts

does it really matter?

Oct 31st.

redundancy

our new place

to blog

Life at school

thinketh no evil

taking church for granted

theology, politics, computers

fundamentalism

been too long

the long awaited. . .

is this where i blog?

busy

hahahahah

favour and grace

blog already

Praise the Lord

praise

W00T!!

Flow chart

happy thanksgiving

So, here I am

Maxims

My girl

politics

correction

remember remember the 5th of Nov