Yes, you read that right. All I've got for Christmas is complaining. However, in this case, I think the complaining is warranted. This is only the second post in December 2007.
We're in Great Barrington, Massachusetts right now for Christmas. In fact, it's 8:21am as I type this. The first clock I saw this morning said 6:13am. Amy's little brother Dan woke everyone up to come downstairs to the tree to open stockings and presents. Yes, it was too early. We got many presents and enjoyed watching everyone open theirs.
Oh, and it was my first white Christmas! It hasn't snowed in three days, but the snow hasn't all melted yet. It's beautifully cold outside and we have five more full days to spend in Great Barrington. One day we'll spend partially in Connecticut at Amy's grandpa's house (we call him Pop-pop). We're hoping to maybe spend some time in Boston, since that didn't work out while we were with Amy's dad in southern New Hampshire.
Right now, Amy and Lisa are asleep on the couch; Mike and Raphaelle are asleep upstairs. Dan is trying to download ITunes and figure out his new IPod nano. John is asleep and I have no idea where Amy's mom is. That's all for now, and I will post again before we leave for home.
12.25.2007
12.05.2007
The Golden Compass, Killing God and Huckabee
Unfortunately, there have been many "scare" e-mails about The Golden Compass being floated among Christian circles. I believe I've received two of them so far. Basically, they are screaming about the horrible message of the movie, the book it's based on, and most especially the author. I've learned more about this movie in recent days and also about Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials, and I agree that the message is a terrible message that completely contrasts with my Christian worldview. However, I don't want to descend to the level of a boycott. Almost all boycotts seem to draw the wrong conclusions with how to deal with something that you disagree with. I would guess that most people who join a public boycott do so on hearsay and perhaps some false or distorted information.
I think it is the duty of a Christian to engage the culture and not shrink away in disgust, as if say that the culture is sinful and disgusting while ignoring my own sin. So, because I have not (yet) read Pullman's trilogy or seen the movie - which comes out in theaters nationwide on Friday - I want to give what I believe is a fair and knowledgeable review of the movie, the books and the man. Dr. Mohler has read the trilogy twice through and saw the movie at a special pre-screening recently. Here's his take.
Also, take a look at the hot-off-the-press Daily Presidential Tracking Poll from Rasmussen Reports. In a crazy development, Huckabee has surged in the last week, displacing Giuliani on top of the polls.
I think it is the duty of a Christian to engage the culture and not shrink away in disgust, as if say that the culture is sinful and disgusting while ignoring my own sin. So, because I have not (yet) read Pullman's trilogy or seen the movie - which comes out in theaters nationwide on Friday - I want to give what I believe is a fair and knowledgeable review of the movie, the books and the man. Dr. Mohler has read the trilogy twice through and saw the movie at a special pre-screening recently. Here's his take.
Also, take a look at the hot-off-the-press Daily Presidential Tracking Poll from Rasmussen Reports. In a crazy development, Huckabee has surged in the last week, displacing Giuliani on top of the polls.
11.30.2007
Quick Hits
I'm pretty sure I stole that title from a sports section or website. Unoriginal, I know, but it felt exactly like the title I needed.
Wednesday, Mike Huckabee passed Mitt Romney in the polls in Iowa. This is huge. Several months ago, Huckabee was in the neighborhood of one to two percent.
Yes, we did go to Santa Clarita for Thanksgiving, and yes, it was wonderful. Short version: Lots of traffic on the way there, basketball, great football game, amazing Thanksgiving dinner, lots of good time with family, watched good football, went on walks with Dad, laughed a lot and enjoyed the fastest drive time we've ever had from Santa Clarita to the OC.
Our senior pastor at Village Bible Church has announced his resignation and move to Tacoma, Washington, to direct the Doctor of Ministry program at Northwest Baptist Seminary. We are excited from him and for his wife Karen as they make a big transition in their lives. Their last Sunday will be January 27. Please pray for Village's unity and for wisdom for the elders as they decide on candidates for the senior pastor position.
Junior High basketball season started on Monday. I had 14 guys come out to the first practice and one quit on Wednesday. We have only four eighth graders and only two of them played for me last year. I'm really excited about this team and I hope I can inject some excitement into them.
Amy's going up to Ruth's new home in Fresno this weekend with Heather and Abigail. She's coming back by train Saturday night.
Well, I think that's it for now. Here comes December (and hopefully more consistent posting).
Wednesday, Mike Huckabee passed Mitt Romney in the polls in Iowa. This is huge. Several months ago, Huckabee was in the neighborhood of one to two percent.
Yes, we did go to Santa Clarita for Thanksgiving, and yes, it was wonderful. Short version: Lots of traffic on the way there, basketball, great football game, amazing Thanksgiving dinner, lots of good time with family, watched good football, went on walks with Dad, laughed a lot and enjoyed the fastest drive time we've ever had from Santa Clarita to the OC.
Our senior pastor at Village Bible Church has announced his resignation and move to Tacoma, Washington, to direct the Doctor of Ministry program at Northwest Baptist Seminary. We are excited from him and for his wife Karen as they make a big transition in their lives. Their last Sunday will be January 27. Please pray for Village's unity and for wisdom for the elders as they decide on candidates for the senior pastor position.
Junior High basketball season started on Monday. I had 14 guys come out to the first practice and one quit on Wednesday. We have only four eighth graders and only two of them played for me last year. I'm really excited about this team and I hope I can inject some excitement into them.
Amy's going up to Ruth's new home in Fresno this weekend with Heather and Abigail. She's coming back by train Saturday night.
Well, I think that's it for now. Here comes December (and hopefully more consistent posting).
11.07.2007
Randy Alcorn Jumps On The Bandwagon
Randy Alcorn, director of Eternal Perspectives Ministries, has decided to endorse Mike Huckabee. Here's why.
Pull The Plug?
From Al Mohler's blog:
As Wesley J. Smith explains, "the reigning cultural paradigm" holds that "a life with profound cognitive dysfunction is not worth living." The dominant assessment is that a person with a diagnosis of permanent unconsciousness should be allowed to die by withdrawal of food and hydration.But, as Smith reports in The Weekly Standard, this "reigning cultural paradigm" is colliding with medical reality.
Read the rest of the article here.
10.31.2007
Happy Reformation Day!
Today marks the 490th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Although understandably overshadowed by Halloween, today is a far more important reminder of one of the greatest events in the history of the world. It brought about a "schism" or a "revolt" against the established Roman Catholic Church and forever changed the Church, learning, and the world.
Go here to find out more.
Go here to find out more.
10.26.2007
Things that Make Me Laugh
Is it mean to laugh at every person who insists on pulling a door that displays a clearly printed sign, such as the one above, telling them to PUSH? So, maybe they've never been here and it's their first time using that door, then I may be a bit more gracious. But what about the ones who try pulling the door every time they use it, every single day?? Personally, I find it quite hilarious. It's even better when they scold themselves for doing it. HA!
10.25.2007
Huckabee and Rasmussen
Apparently, I've jumped on the Mike Huckabee bandwagon. Go here for a recent evangelical endorsement of Huckabee.
Also, I discovered this site. Rasmussen Reports has all kinds of accurate surveys and polls from politics, business and lifestyle. Read some of the quotes endorsing the sites on top of the page.
Also, I discovered this site. Rasmussen Reports has all kinds of accurate surveys and polls from politics, business and lifestyle. Read some of the quotes endorsing the sites on top of the page.
10.23.2007
Thanks Terminator
California Senate Bill 777 was recently signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. It is a law that our "Republican" governor signed into law even though NO Republicans in the entire state legislature voted for. In fact, a few Democrats abstained from even voting. It passed the State Senate 23-13 and passed the State Assembly 42-19.
Monday's edition of The Albert Mohler Program discussed this bill. If you would like to listen to it, go here. Skip the first nine minutes and then listen to the rest.
Here's a scary scenario made possible by this law: Andrew doesn't feel like a boy today. In fact, although he has a boy's anatomy, he thinks that today he is actually a girl deep down in his soul. Therefore, he tells his teacher and asks to be called Andrea today. He is now a "she" and a "her" and must be referred to as such. However, the teacher cannot tell the parents this or refer to Andrew as "she" or "her." Also, because Andrew is actually Andrea, he/she can now use the girls' restroom!
I would like to state here that this is most definitely NOT an attempt to bash gays, lesbians, bisexual people and transgender people. However, I believe in the inspiration and infallibility of every word of the Bible and I believe that homosexuality and other forms that I don't know how to name (along with all kinds of heterosexual sins) are deviating from God's good and perfect order. To corrupt and defile God's created order is sin. I do not deny genuine feelings of attraction in same-sex relationships. Just because I do not experience that same attraction doesn't make me somehow a more righteous person than they. I am attracted to many, many other kinds of sin and I pray daily - no, hourly - that God would save me from those.
Therefore, I would like to point you to this website: Save Our Kids. This organization is trying to get enough signatures to force a referendum on the next ballot for the citizens of California to vote on this horrendous piece of legislation.
Monday's edition of The Albert Mohler Program discussed this bill. If you would like to listen to it, go here. Skip the first nine minutes and then listen to the rest.
Here's a scary scenario made possible by this law: Andrew doesn't feel like a boy today. In fact, although he has a boy's anatomy, he thinks that today he is actually a girl deep down in his soul. Therefore, he tells his teacher and asks to be called Andrea today. He is now a "she" and a "her" and must be referred to as such. However, the teacher cannot tell the parents this or refer to Andrew as "she" or "her." Also, because Andrew is actually Andrea, he/she can now use the girls' restroom!
I would like to state here that this is most definitely NOT an attempt to bash gays, lesbians, bisexual people and transgender people. However, I believe in the inspiration and infallibility of every word of the Bible and I believe that homosexuality and other forms that I don't know how to name (along with all kinds of heterosexual sins) are deviating from God's good and perfect order. To corrupt and defile God's created order is sin. I do not deny genuine feelings of attraction in same-sex relationships. Just because I do not experience that same attraction doesn't make me somehow a more righteous person than they. I am attracted to many, many other kinds of sin and I pray daily - no, hourly - that God would save me from those.
Therefore, I would like to point you to this website: Save Our Kids. This organization is trying to get enough signatures to force a referendum on the next ballot for the citizens of California to vote on this horrendous piece of legislation.
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