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Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win the division and are playoff bound!! Let’s go Cubbies!
One of my favorite songs by Steve Green, entitled I Repent:
I regret the hours I have wasted and the pleasures I have tasted that you were never in. And I confess that though your love is in me, it doesn’t always win me when competing with my sin.
CHORUS
And I repent, making no excuses. I repent no one else to blame. And I return to fall in love with Jesus. I bow down on my knees and I repent.
I lament the idols I;ve accepted, the commandments I’ve rejected to pursue my selfish end. And I confess I need you to revive me, put selfishness behind me and take up my cross again.
BRIDGE
And I return to fall in love with Jesus. I bow down on my knees and I repent.
“Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.” Jonathan Edwards
During one of my Apologetics classes last week, we had visitor come and talk to us about using creationism to defend the faith. His name is Bodie Hodge and he works for the new Creation Museum in Cincinnati. It was awesome! I’m hoping to go to the museum this year with some students from my school.
I’m home, but too tired to really post so I’ll just post a joke:
A man had just finished reading the book Man of the House while commuting home from work. By the time he reached home, he stormed into the house and walked directly up to his wife, pointing a finger in her face, he said. “From now on I want you to know that I am the man of the house and my word is law! You are to prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I’m finished eating my meal, I expect you to present a scrumptious dessert. Then, after dinner, you are to draw my bath so I can relax. And when I am finished with my bath, guess who’s going to dress me and comb my hair?”
“The funeral Director would be my guess,” She replied.
I’m in Cincinnati this week, at GBS, for some more classes. I’m taking Church History, Systematic Theology, Apologetics, and a Leadership Management course. So far, I’m loving it! But I have a church history quiz in the morning so I might change my tune.
One of my favorite authors John Piper posted this on his awesome website:
1. The Bible awakens faith, the source of all obedience.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
2. The Bible frees from sin.
You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. (John 8:32)
3. The Bible frees from Satan.
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
4. The Bible sanctifies.
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:17)
5. The Bible frees from corruption and empowers godliness.
His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (2 Peter 1:3-4)
6. The Bible serves love.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment. (Philippians 1:9)
But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)
7. The Bible saves.
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:16)
Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. (Acts 20:26)
[They will] perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:10)
8. The Bible gives joy.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11)
9. The Bible reveals the Lord.
And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord. (1 Samuel 3:21)
10. Therefore, the Bible is the foundation of my happy home and life and ministry and hope of eternity with God.
A 12 Point Cure for Complaining, by Bill Izard
1. God commands me never to complain.
“Do all things without complaining and disputing” (Philippians 2:14).
2. God commands me to give thanks in every circumstance.
“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
3. God commands me to rejoice always, and especially in times of trial.
“Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4); “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16); “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2).
4. I always deserve much worse than what I am suffering now—in fact, I deserve hell.
“Why should any living mortal, or any man, offer complaint in view of his sins?” (Lamentations 3:39)
“Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:2-3).
5. In light of the eternal happiness and glory that I will experience in Heaven, this present trial is extremely brief and insignificant, even if it were to last a lifetime.
“The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18); “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:19).
6. My suffering is far less than that which Christ suffered, and He did not complain.
“Who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23).
7. To complain is to say God is not just.
“Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)
8. Faith and prayer exclude complaining.
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
9. This difficulty is being used by God for my good and it is foolish for me to complain against it.
“And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
10. Those more faithful than I have suffered far worse than I, and did so without complaint.
“…and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. All these, having gained approval through their faith…” (Hebrews 11:35-39)
11. Complaining denies that God’s grace is entirely sufficient.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
12. The greatest suffering, the worst trial or difficulty, can never rob me of that which is of greatest value to me and my greatest joy, namely the love of Christ.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).
I heard a noise outside of my office window so I stepped outside and saw my wife doing a “math march” with some of the 1-3 graders. She doesn’t even work here, but she came in to help. As I saw her marching I realized how truly blessed I am. The way the sun was shining on her; the way she smiled at me…I think she is getting more beautiful every day. Man, I am sooooooo blessed!!!!!
Today I’m starting a 12 week diet/exercise program. I’m 34 and it’s not going to get any easier to shed off some excess pounds. So this morning I had an egg white scrambled egg. Three to four egg whites and one whole egg with 2 cups a water and some whole wheat toast (no butter). I put some salsa (yes I can have it) on the eggs and put it between the bread. It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either. I would prefer biscuits and gravy two fried eggs (fried in bacon grease of course) some sausage or bacon, but hey, I’m trying to lose some weight!
Anyway, I’m in my office this morning reading from the book of Job. Trying to get some encouragement to start my day and my new diet. When this is what I read: Job 6:5-6, “Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? My soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.” No joke! I’m not sure what God is trying to tell me, but for now I’ll stick to the egg whites. But if what happened to Job happens to me; it’s back to biscuits and gravy two fried eggs (fried in bacon grease of course) and some sausage or bacon! If I’m going to have boils, I’m going to have biscuits with them!!!
