Hi All!
Be sure to check out the new stuff like some of the new side links such as: http://www.livingwaters.com/ or the link to deathbeth.com or the new sidebar poll or the YouTube feed at the bottom of the page. Have a great weekend!
Friday, February 29, 2008
GOD Doesn't Believe in Atheists
Here is an excerpt from a book titled, GOD Doesn't Believe in Atheists.
"Imagine your reaction if you turned on the television to hear the following news item:
"Scientists have just invented a machine that is able to turn your kitchen waste into a small, edible packet of food. It is surrounded by a white, hygienically sealed protective casing. When this packet is opened, the contents may be eaten in a variety of delicious ways. It doesn't matter what type of food waste is put into the machine at night, it always comes out the same consistent yellow and white color the next morning. If fat, spinach, bread crumbs, apple cores, wheat, and even live grubs and worms are put into it, all are miraculously transformed overnight into a delicious-tasting food by the next morning.
Excited scientists report that this incredible machine will have the ability to reproduce itself. Believe it or not, it can make a special hygienically sealed packet, which produces (you guessed it) another food-making machine. At any time, any of these machines themselves can be easily dismantled, cooked, and eaten. They are said to taste "finger lickin' good."
I'm sure that most of us would view such a news item with great skepticism, yet that is what we have with the ordinary, common, every-day chicken. Each day, most of the 4 billion chicken brains do what modern man's brain can't. They make eggs and chickens. Is the chicken more intelligent than man? Probably not. Therefore, something far superior to man must have made the chicken. "Accident" is the alternative.
Aristotle said, "God, having become unseen to every nature, through His works is seen." Plato said, "The world must have a cause and that cause is the Eternal Maker." Cicero echoed, "What can be so clear when we look at the sky and the heavenly bodies is that there is some deity of surpassing mind by whom these are governed."
"Imagine your reaction if you turned on the television to hear the following news item:
"Scientists have just invented a machine that is able to turn your kitchen waste into a small, edible packet of food. It is surrounded by a white, hygienically sealed protective casing. When this packet is opened, the contents may be eaten in a variety of delicious ways. It doesn't matter what type of food waste is put into the machine at night, it always comes out the same consistent yellow and white color the next morning. If fat, spinach, bread crumbs, apple cores, wheat, and even live grubs and worms are put into it, all are miraculously transformed overnight into a delicious-tasting food by the next morning.
Excited scientists report that this incredible machine will have the ability to reproduce itself. Believe it or not, it can make a special hygienically sealed packet, which produces (you guessed it) another food-making machine. At any time, any of these machines themselves can be easily dismantled, cooked, and eaten. They are said to taste "finger lickin' good."
I'm sure that most of us would view such a news item with great skepticism, yet that is what we have with the ordinary, common, every-day chicken. Each day, most of the 4 billion chicken brains do what modern man's brain can't. They make eggs and chickens. Is the chicken more intelligent than man? Probably not. Therefore, something far superior to man must have made the chicken. "Accident" is the alternative.
Aristotle said, "God, having become unseen to every nature, through His works is seen." Plato said, "The world must have a cause and that cause is the Eternal Maker." Cicero echoed, "What can be so clear when we look at the sky and the heavenly bodies is that there is some deity of surpassing mind by whom these are governed."
By Ray Comfort pages 51 & 52 of his book:
GOD Doesn't Believe in Atheists ISBN: 0-88270-922-4
GOD Doesn't Believe in Atheists ISBN: 0-88270-922-4
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Busy! Busy! Busy!
Sorry I haven't posted much this week. If you wonder why just look at my profile! :-) It has been hectic. However, I wanted to post a few quotes from a book I highly recommend. The book is titled, "Jesus Among Other Gods," by a man named Ravi Zacharias. I consider him to be one of the foremost Christian thinkers of our day. There is a link to his website on the side. I encourage you to visit RZIM.org. The quotes are below as well as the ISBN number of the book if you would like to read more of it."Have you ever experienced the confusion of a seemingly senseless configuration on a poster that appears to be random shapes or dots? As you continue to stare at it and tilt your head one way or the other, a word or a picture suddenly leaps out from that cluttered pattern. We call it a cryptogram .
"Something fascinating happens once you have seen that the dots or shading were just masking the real message. You start tilting your head in various positions in an attempt to lose the ordered pattern and regain the initial disorder. The latter exercise comes into play only because you start wondering how it was possible in the first place to miss the word. When the eye has captured the image, it interprets the message for what it is. When the eye loses the message, disarray dominates.
"May I suggest that the challenge of Jesus' earthly ministry was to enable us to see the message so that the picture could be understood. Staring at life's cryptogram, we either see His name unmistakably resplendent or we see the confusion of religions with no single message, just garbled beliefs that plague our existence, each justified by the voice of culture. That may be the tragedy of the beguiling sentiment we call tolerance, which has become a euphemism for contradiction. The result is treacherous.
"Jesus Christ came to challenge every culture on the face of the earth so that we might gain a perspective from higher ground."
"Something fascinating happens once you have seen that the dots or shading were just masking the real message. You start tilting your head in various positions in an attempt to lose the ordered pattern and regain the initial disorder. The latter exercise comes into play only because you start wondering how it was possible in the first place to miss the word. When the eye has captured the image, it interprets the message for what it is. When the eye loses the message, disarray dominates.
"May I suggest that the challenge of Jesus' earthly ministry was to enable us to see the message so that the picture could be understood. Staring at life's cryptogram, we either see His name unmistakably resplendent or we see the confusion of religions with no single message, just garbled beliefs that plague our existence, each justified by the voice of culture. That may be the tragedy of the beguiling sentiment we call tolerance, which has become a euphemism for contradiction. The result is treacherous.
"Jesus Christ came to challenge every culture on the face of the earth so that we might gain a perspective from higher ground."
(found on p. 33 of "Jesus Among Other Gods" by Ravi Zacharias, ISBN:0-8499-4263-2)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Prayer Meeting
When was the last time you had a prayer meeting? I don't mean at church. I mean you and your spouse or a friend or even more radically, just you and God. Sadly we don't have much prayer any more. We like to gripe about prayer being taken from our public schools and public forums. I agree that is a problem in our nation but we fail to acknowledge that prayer has been gone from our personal lives just as long.
The absence of prayer in the venue of real world living is a situation over which we have control. Its determinant is personal choice. I know in my own life, I blamed all kinds of things for the lack of personal time with God. I blamed long hours at my high pressure job. I blamed the demands of my family. I blamed my legitimate pursuit of higher education. I even admitted the time I had was taken by some frivolous things such as magazines, or computer games, or whatever. The end result remained that I threw around a lot of blame and still had no time alone with God.
Then, for a while, my circumstances changed. I didn't have the stress, the job, or school. The one thing I had lots of was time. You know what, things still didn't change. I found that my time was filled with lots of other frivolous things and I still didn't pray any more than before. Now my circumstances are changing again. I now have a lot of work, a lot of school, and plenty to do. But now I know I can't blame my schedule for lack of prayer time. Lack of time with God can only be blamed on self. Any other reason is merely an excuse. So I ask the Lord to strengthen my will to choose Him first every day above all else. He must be priority. I'll be seeking Him.
By the way, I'll be meeting with my good friend Phil in the morning for prayer meeting. I encourage you to find a prayer partner. The accountability and fellowship is exponentially empowering. God Bless.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
"To the End of the World"
I don't remember where I first saw this photo. I am not even sure where it came from, so if anyone can enlighten me, I would like to document its source.
Anyway, I think this is a really cool picture showing the line between day and night from space. Imagine how God views this. I think the most amazing thing is that He sees us.
He doesn't look from where He is to where we are and see just swirls of water, clouds, land, and a few winking lights. He sees you and sees me right where we are whatever we are going through.
When was the last time you looked down from 30,000 feet and distinguished anything in any detail? Exactly. Yet God sees every moment of your life and mine. He even promised that He would not be any more distant than we made Him. He promised to knock on the door of every heart and wait for an invitation to enter. Then He promised that He would never leave as long as He was welcome...even unto the end of the very world you see in this picture. I think that is a tremendous promise and a great comfort. So don't feel lost or alone. Wherever you are on this planet, there He is.
Anyway, I think this is a really cool picture showing the line between day and night from space. Imagine how God views this. I think the most amazing thing is that He sees us.
He doesn't look from where He is to where we are and see just swirls of water, clouds, land, and a few winking lights. He sees you and sees me right where we are whatever we are going through.
When was the last time you looked down from 30,000 feet and distinguished anything in any detail? Exactly. Yet God sees every moment of your life and mine. He even promised that He would not be any more distant than we made Him. He promised to knock on the door of every heart and wait for an invitation to enter. Then He promised that He would never leave as long as He was welcome...even unto the end of the very world you see in this picture. I think that is a tremendous promise and a great comfort. So don't feel lost or alone. Wherever you are on this planet, there He is.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Missionaries to Okinawa
I just wanted to share for a few moments about a family I love very much. They don't know anything about this post, but I wanted to share them with my readers. Aaron & Kyoko Miller are wonderful missionaries to Okinawa. When I was temporarily deployed to Kadena Air Force Base on the island of Okinawa in 2007, I spent a lot of time with the Miller family during my time off. I was with them several Sundays. They practically adopted me while I was there. They gave freely of their kindness and love and I hope in some small way to repay them throughout my life. When the service men and women are deployed around the world, away from their families, that kind of love is precious. I will never forget the Miller family and the often thankless ministry they perform half way around the world to the wonderful people of Okinawa. If you would join me in praying for them whenever they come to your mind I know they would appreciate it. Also, if you are ever looking for a family to encourage I know they would welcome letters and gifts of support. To the Millers if you ever read this, "You will always be remembered and loved."
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Don't Worry. Be Happy!
I love this picture! (Both our kids love each other, though they usually don't display quite this level of cooperation!) Both our children dearly love music. We thank God that this is a common sight in our household...one or both of them involved in music...banging on the piano or daddy's guitar or blowing on whatever flute or whistle they can find! :-) It's all just noise now, but someday it will be beautiful music. Never forget, Always sing!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Happy Birthday Jesus
We just got some pictures developed. You will notice the picture to the left. This past Christmas we didn't have much. However, I wanted to start a tradition with my children to emphasize the real reason we celebrate the day of Christmas. This is what we did. Julia and Mommy made and decorated the cake and we had a birthday party for Jesus. It was a great memory. We'll do it again next year. Now that Christmas isn't around have you still been thanking Him for coming so long ago? Easter season in upon us. Let's remember that's the real reason for Christmas!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Sunday
Just a few thoughts:
Today is nearly done. It has been an ok day. It has not been spectacular, it has not been bad. It has simply been a day. With this in mind I think of what today is supposed to be: a day of rest.
The first day of rest we know of in history is recorded in the book of Genesis when God the Creator rested from all His work. Since that time in various ways, a "Sabbath" day of rest was eventually codified in an entire culture and has been continued in the Christian Tradition. Only within the last fifty years have we observed the rapid loss of this observance. In all of time, mankind has never lived at a more frenetic pace. Now, of all times in history, when we need a day rest most, we have gradually let it slip away.
Now, Sunday (or Saturday if such is what you observe) is just as full of activity and focus on ourselves as any other day of the week. How about you? Do you need a breather from the mad rush of the world around us? Start planning for next weekend today. Set aside that day of rest for you and your family. Schedule the errands for another day. Plan to attend church so that you may lift your eyes away from the blur of earth toward Heaven for a few brief moments. You'd be surprised how much clearer your vision of everything else will become.
Take time to turn off whatever electronic gizmos you may possess. You'd be surprised how restful that is. Don't answer your telephone. That's why we invented voice mail! Take time to meditate. Think about God's perspective of your world and circumstances. Let Him shed light in your path to guide you. Break out the old guitar and do a little family singing. Drink a glass of iced tea. Give your spouse a foot rub. Sit on the front porch and look at the stars. When Monday comes, you'll hit the ground running. It won't have to be a "blue" Monday.
Your weeks are hectic enough. On Sunday, "give it a rest." God will bless it! Have a Great Week!
Today is nearly done. It has been an ok day. It has not been spectacular, it has not been bad. It has simply been a day. With this in mind I think of what today is supposed to be: a day of rest.
The first day of rest we know of in history is recorded in the book of Genesis when God the Creator rested from all His work. Since that time in various ways, a "Sabbath" day of rest was eventually codified in an entire culture and has been continued in the Christian Tradition. Only within the last fifty years have we observed the rapid loss of this observance. In all of time, mankind has never lived at a more frenetic pace. Now, of all times in history, when we need a day rest most, we have gradually let it slip away.
Now, Sunday (or Saturday if such is what you observe) is just as full of activity and focus on ourselves as any other day of the week. How about you? Do you need a breather from the mad rush of the world around us? Start planning for next weekend today. Set aside that day of rest for you and your family. Schedule the errands for another day. Plan to attend church so that you may lift your eyes away from the blur of earth toward Heaven for a few brief moments. You'd be surprised how much clearer your vision of everything else will become.
Take time to turn off whatever electronic gizmos you may possess. You'd be surprised how restful that is. Don't answer your telephone. That's why we invented voice mail! Take time to meditate. Think about God's perspective of your world and circumstances. Let Him shed light in your path to guide you. Break out the old guitar and do a little family singing. Drink a glass of iced tea. Give your spouse a foot rub. Sit on the front porch and look at the stars. When Monday comes, you'll hit the ground running. It won't have to be a "blue" Monday.
Your weeks are hectic enough. On Sunday, "give it a rest." God will bless it! Have a Great Week!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Click on the Music Player!
Click on the music player and hear many of the songs I enjoy.
Many have deep meaning, but some are simply for fun. Enjoy!
Many have deep meaning, but some are simply for fun. Enjoy!
The Kingdom of God
- By Francis Thompson (1859–1907)
Choosing
Once to every man and nation
comes the moment to decide
In the strife of truth with falsehood
for the good or evil side,
With each choice God speaking to us,
offers each the bloom or blight
Then the man or nation chooses
for the darkness or the light.
comes the moment to decide
In the strife of truth with falsehood
for the good or evil side,
With each choice God speaking to us,
offers each the bloom or blight
Then the man or nation chooses
for the darkness or the light.
- James Russell Lowell
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Words of Wisdom
"I learned thirty years ago that it is foolish to scold. I have enough trouble overcoming my own limitations without fretting over the fact that God has not seen fit to distribute evenly the gift of intelligence." - John Wanamaker
"Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do." - Dale Carnegie
"Flattery is telling the other person precisely what he thinks of himself." - Unknown
"Teach me neither to proffer nor receive cheap praise." - Maxim in the study of King George V
"Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." - Unknown
"Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do." - Dale Carnegie
"Flattery is telling the other person precisely what he thinks of himself." - Unknown
"Teach me neither to proffer nor receive cheap praise." - Maxim in the study of King George V
"Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." - Unknown
What NOT To Give Her For Valentines Day!
Tomorrow is the big V-Day. Don't forget to show your Lady you love her in some way!
From GCFL.com
- A box of chocolates, clumsily rearranged in an attempt to hide the fact you ate all the caramel ones.
- Any food item with the words "diet," "light," or "high fiber" on the label.
- Flowers from a hospital's gift shop--or worse, a mortuary's.
- Any household appliance, power tool or other item from the harder side of Sears.
- A gift certificate.
- Cash.
- Anything you could have bought at the gas station mini-mart on the way over, even if you didn't.
- An apologetic look and the words "That was today?"
- Received from Thomas Ellsworth.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Welcome!
Hi everyone!
I'm starting this blog to have a forum for posting interesting information I wish to share. However, I stay quite busy, so I make no promises of frequent posts. Nevertheless, I hope you will visit from time to time to check out interesting links or intriguing ideas. God Bless!
I'm starting this blog to have a forum for posting interesting information I wish to share. However, I stay quite busy, so I make no promises of frequent posts. Nevertheless, I hope you will visit from time to time to check out interesting links or intriguing ideas. God Bless!
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