How P2R changed my life

It would be an understatement to say that my wife and I completed the last P2R challenge only slightly changed.

Doing anything for 4 months straight will certainly have drastic effects on you.

One of the ways participating in the Partnering to Remember challenge through Philippians has changed my life is:

Journaling

I've never been one to journal. I think I had one for a week or so when I was younger, but it didn't last. Now, I enjoy writing down:

• Daily memorization/reading/meditating notes
• Sunday sermon notes to reflect on during the week
• Prayers (my own/others)
• Random musings

I am excited to one day look back upon my journals and rejoice in answered prayers and recognize how much God has blessed and changed me.

Maybe my (grand)children will be encouraged by the work the Lord has done/will do in my life though the study of God's Word. I can only hope to be so blessed. Only through God's grace will I leave a legacy that lasts.

So, thanks to Pastor Timmy Brister and all the others who helped make P2R well-organized and easy to jump into! And also to those who helped encourage along the way!

The End has come...and gone...

And no, I'm not referring to Mr Camping's infamous miscalculation that apparently really wasn't a miscalculation, just a different kind of calculation than we all thought he was referring to...

I'm talking about the end of waiting for the Martin OMC-Aura I ordered...and sent back...

 

I really, really, really love the look of this guitar however, it didn't produce the sound I'm looking for. It's not really meant for strumming, more for finger picking. And I'm sure many of you may think it would have been worth it to just start playing differently just so that I could keep the guitar...I had thought of that! :)

It has a gorgeous sound (described as a 'symphony of angels singing with every strum' by my friend Dan - great musician btw) but there isn't enough 'oomph' behind it. It's too thin-sounding for me. I play with more rhythm and choppy-ness than lightly plucky-ness (make sense??)

Sooo....I sent it back. The place I ordered it from has a 7 day return policy, luckily (I wouldn't have ordered it had they not).

And so my search continues.

I am currently checking out Nelson Gutars (a local luthier). I'll post my opinion of them soon.

Gender Secrecy

READ > Parents keep child's gender secret < READ

Really? I don't even know where to begin...I don't know if there would be an easier way to make a child's life as difficult as possible.

-Letting children be 'who they want to be.'
Great, like a cop or a nurse or a teacher...but male or female? The importance of gender roles has gone completely out the window.

-Unschooling
Good luck getting into college - "Well, for 12 years I built forts, chased frogs and baked muffins. Oh and drew and colored a lot."

-'Girlboy'
Why not just shorten in to Goy? But we wouldn't want to confuse them any more than you parents already have...

There is a very clear difference between God's Word and man's word regarding male and female and their roles. (See Genesis 1-3, 1 Corinthians 11 and Ephesians 5 for clarity)

Thoughts? Reactions?

Would Light make light?

The Twitter world is ablaze with jokes and mockery of Harold Camping.

My question is, should we joke about a subject as veracious and important as Christ's return?

Of course, we must proclaim the truth and be aware of false prophets as Scripture warrants (Matthew 7:15-23).

But should we make light of the situation? What is the Christ-like way to react - publicly or privately?

Chime in with your thoughts...

The End is Near!

Not of the Harold Camping sort...I'm talking about the end of my (patiently??) waiting!

Delivery is scheduled for today by 4:30pm!

Stay tuned for more info on what it is!

Oh, and you know what they say: "The third time's the charm!" Oh wait...it's been a lot more than 3 tries...

Where's the Green Grass?

We've all heard it before:  

"The grass is always greener on the other side." 

I'm not actually sure I've ever heard it spoken with a sincere attitude; usually it's shortened to 'The grass is greener..!' and said with a slight hint of banter and a half eye-roll (oh, and don't forget the shrug).

Having that experience with the sarcastic aphorism, I will be honest, I went into reading Stephen Altrogge's new book The Greener Grass Conspiracy with a few unfair reservations.


Incorporating the wit we would expect of him, however, Altrogge littered the pages with many stories (true and imaginary) that helped keep the book interesting and drive his points home. If reading about King Solomon sipping a latte at Starbucks (p. 47) and Paul throwing coffee in your face (p. 76) won't entice you enough to read this book, I'm not sure what will...maybe the following review will help:

Contentment is defined in chapter 3 as: 

     ...a disposition of the heart that freely and joyfully submits to God's will, whatever that will may be. (p. 28)

First, we are taught that we must address our heart if we want to be content. Mere self-denial is not enough to breed contentment:

I imagine that Saint Benedict encountered many discontent monks who were absolutely dying for a piece of bacon. (p. 29)

Second, we are given a great example of how freely and joyfully submitting to God's will is very important:

     Dentist appointments are a part of life that I tolerate. I know dentists are good for me, but I really don't like going to the dentist.
     Often we treat God like some sort of divine dentist. We know, at least in theory, that he is good and that all he does is good. We know from Romans 8:28 that God works all things for the good of those who love him. But when life starts to get rough, we adopt a "grin and bear it" attitude. We know that somehow God will work everything for good, but in the meantime we're going to climb into our bunker and prepare for whatever bombs God is going to drop. This is not biblical, God-honoring contentment. (p. 31)

Third, we cannot choose when we shall be content:

We don't experience a breeze or backache that hasn't first been ordained by God for our good and his glory. (p. 32)

...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (Philippians 4:11) (p. 29)

So in understanding contentment, we must know that mere self-denial, tolerating trials, and choosing when to be content are not going to cut it.

Altrogge accurately represented scripture in relaying to us an ideology that is far too absent in America. Our focus gets stuck on the 'other side' where the grass looks greener (new job, marriage, health) and not on Christ.

The chapter that stuck in my mind and heart the most:
Chapter 9 - Eat the meat and die

Here we are faced with what our complaining says about our heart. A step is taken away from funny stories to explain the serious side of what we're communicating when we complain:

     Complaining...[is] a slap in the face of God. (p. 103)

     We're saying that God hasn't been good to us, that he's not so kind after all. We're telling a lie about God. That's why complaining is so wicked. (p. 104)

     Call the defendant to the stand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
     The accused is charged with the following crimes: dangerous neglect of family, failure to give child support, and family abandonment. This person is a deadbeat and a menace to society. He needs to be taken off the streets and locked up until he can get his act together. The name of the accused: God. (p. 106-107)

     Complaining turns us into blasphemers. (p. 108)

I will surely be re-reading this chapter many times to remind myself of the impact my complaining has on my view of God; especially what it communicates to others.

Overall, I found this book to be very helpful in understanding what contentment is (and isn't) for the Christian. All believers should be reminded of what it means when we aren't content with where God has us.

Philippians Wordled

I think it's pretty clear what the theme of Philippians is:

Jesus Christ is Lord and God.

(Other Philippian wordles)