CatHouse Chat

My Darling Munchkin: God's blessing in my life, and a wonderful child

This year in seventh grade has been a real time of growing and blossoming for my Darling Munchkin. All through the year, she's been a good student and earned high praise from many people. Yes, there have been some bumps in the road - she's not perfect, after all (pretty darn near it, though, IMHO!) - but all in all, her sweet attitude and bright mind had delighted my Beloved and me throughout the year.

This year she earned the praise of her band teacher, gained an invitation to attend Governor's School summer camp (she'll be studying biology), was recognized as a national honor student, won a D.A.R. award for their annual essay contest, and now has been recognized with an incredible scholarship to an excellent school!

Today, she was going to get her braces applied. However, her English teacher called me yesterday to let me know about the scholarship and mentioned that my Munchkin might like to be there for the last day of school! So, of course I rescheduled, and her dad drove home early from a business trip...

The Munchkin has no idea of what's going on, and I pray that I'll be updating this post with details about the scholarship as well as pictures of her reaction when she hears about it!

UPDATE!

The Munchkin is awestruck and delighted! I found out that the school awarding the scholarship, Chatham Hall, contacts her current school and requests the teachers to give them the name of the deserving student, so this is indeed an honor.

Here's the text of the award:

The Chatham Hall Book Award Scholarship is intended for a student who is in strong academic standing and demonstrates leadership and a love of learning. Additionally, this student should possess talents which, given the opportunity to attend an all girls' boarding school [the Munchkin would be a day student], can become talents which carry her far beyond the classroom. She may be a singer, a writer, a poet, a pianist or guitarist, a debater, an athelete or a leader through community service. Georgia O'Keefe was the kind of student just described. She was bright and articulate yet those were not her true gifts - art was her calling and Chatham Hall provided the training, motivation and support which allowed her to fully realize her gifts and share them with the world.

This year's award book will be Georgia O'Keefe: An Eternal Spirit, by Susan Wright. As you may know, Georgia O'Keefe is a Chatham Hall graduate and former Chatham Hall art teacher. When considering giving up her art career, Georgia turned to her Chatham Hall mentor and former Head Mistress, Mae Willis, who encouraged her to continue working to perfect her art as Mae was convinced Georgia was talented and would find success. Chatham Hall continues to be that place that nurtures the creative mind while challenging the intuitive mind and encouraging the moral heart. Chatham Hall grows young women who are well rounded leaders and citizens of the world.

In addition to offering the award book to this deserving female student, Chatham Hall is waiving the admission application fee and offering a [$] scholarship for each year she attends Chatham Hall should the Book Award Scholarship recipient enroll.

We are honored, delighted and truly blessed that our Darling Munchkin has earned this award!

 

Good morning! Time to worship...

With "Revelation Song."

Phillips, Craig & Dean have a version of this song that is beautifully done, and I love waking up to it!

Worthy is the
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat
[Repeat 2x]

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!
Yeah!

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,
Yeah

(Chorus)

Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah...

(Chorus)
(Chorus) (Repeat at a cappella)

Come up lift up His Name
To the King of Kings…
We will adore YOU Lord…
King of heaven and earth
King Jesus, King Jesus
Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya!
Majesty, awestruck Honor
And Power and Strength and Dominion
To You Lord,
To the King, to King
To the King of Glory

01 - Revelation Song

Er... Sorry for the spam..

But, apparently, the SixApart/FaceBook BlogIt application is NOT going to work for me...

Ew, how many times did it post a duplicate? Five? Nope. Plus, it doesn't appear to update FBook AND TPad simultaneously. Ah, well, it was only a quick little experiment, and i've removed the applications.

Again, sorry for the spam in your RSS! ;-)

Checking out SixApart's BlogIt app for Facebook

Just seeing how this is going to work; I wanted something to use to post to FBook that would also update my Typepad blog.... At the moment, TPad is not sending updates to FBook, which is slightly irritating..

Kindred Hospital in Mansfield, TX, is anti-free speech and unpatriotic

I got this link from my friend Scott on his Facebook page:

Is it okay to show your patriotism at the office?

For one Arlington woman, the answer was "no" after she hung an American flag in her office just before the Memorial Day weekend.

Debbie McLucas is one of four hospital supervisors at Kindred Hospital in Mansfield. Last week, she hung a three-by-five foot American flag in the office she shares with the other supervisors.

When McLucas came to work Friday, her boss told her another supervisor had found her flag offensive. "I was just totally speechless. I was like, 'You're kidding me,'" McLucas said.

Some ignorant and intolerant... person... was offended by the display of a flag for Memorial Day weekend?!

McLucas said the supervisor who complained has been in the United States for 14 years and is formerly from Africa. McLucas said the supervisor took down Debbie's flag herself.

This ... person...  has been in America for 14 years, enjoying the hospitality, liberty and prosperity of America, and is OFFENDED at the display of the flag?

I have one thing to say: GET OUT.

As for the craven cowardice displayed by the admin department of the hospital, I would suggest that you call (817) 473-6101, ask for Administration, and offer them your thoughts. Firmly, politely - but very decisively.

(UPDATE: Scott has posted full contact details on his blog...)

UPDATE 2.0 - A David Inman, supposedly from Kindred has posted a comment at Scott's -

Kindred Hospital Mansfield has a great deal of appreciation for the service that many of our employees and their families have given to their country. We honor our veterans and active military through a variety of benefits and service programs. This was an isolated incident between two employees that we are working to resolve amicably. Both employees have family members who have served in the military. The disagreement was over the size of the flag and not what it symbolized. We have invited the employee to put the flag back up. We share their love of country and we appreciate the service of their family members as well as all members of the armed forces.

And NBC Dallas confirmed the facts stated in that comment.

Nevertheless, even if this is an office kerfuffle, the management should not have caved so readily. AND the supervisor who took it down behaved childishly. I still would like to know whether that person is a citizen or not...

Country clothesline chronicles

Clean laundry drying in the breezy sunshine... Oh, yeah, this is some of the best of country living!

Perfect timing for Memorial Day

We are, of course, going to be having a family gathering tomorrow at CatHouse Central to enjoy friends and family and the long weekend.

But this weekend is in memory and celebration of the men and women in our armed forces who gave the last, full measure of devotion to this country, so it's appropriate to remember and honor them.

Back in February, HBO aired an incredible movie - "Taking Chance." I was upset that I couldn't watch it, but heard so many enthusiastic endorsements of it - including from my Beloved Husband, who saw it while traveling - that I had to order it. I recieved notice near the beginning of May that it had shipped, but was down in Orlando helping my Mom when it arrived.

Today, while cleaning out the cooler in preparation for this weekend's festivities, lo and behold, there was the package from Amazon...

So now I have the perfect movie to remember and honor our citizan soldiers who have laid down their lives so that this country remains free.

Reading now...

The ESV Study Bible - I'm actually doing pretty well with my Bible reading this year. I'd started out with MacArthur's Daily Bible, but decided to switch to the reading plan in Table Talk magazine. This way, I only need to carry one Bible with me, and since the ESV Study Bible is a hefty monster (but sooooo AWESOME!), switching plans made sense.

Just this week, I began reading a great classic of Christian theology and doctrine: Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. I am going to go through this very carefully, underlining and making notes since I really want to understand and retain the information. This is no light read, so I'm only dealing with one chapter per day at most.

I've also decided - this morning - to take this book off the "later" shelf and crack it open. Sowell's Applied Economics is another book that must be read actively, but it's come highly recommended, and I'm looking forward to learning a lot from it.

Finally, courtesy of Mom, Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism. I'm thinking of adding it to my reading schedule, but may wait until after I've finished Sowell's book. I've got enough heavy reading on my plate, and I don't want to overload, LOL!

So, that's what I'm reading... What about you?

k-angel

Groundhog wars

We have a "pet" groundhog here at the CatHouse Base of Operations... Actually, I think right now it's a family of groundhogs, because the star of this morning's little production seems smaller than I recall...

At any rate, this poor guy is out browsing in the grass for his breakfast, and one of the local birds (it looks kind of mocking-bird-ish, but not really - a very slim, active, and showy bird) has taken exception to it and has been dive-bombing the groundhog.

Please forgive the lack of quality - these were taken from inside the house, through a rather dirty window, and also have a bit of sun-haze in them. I've cropped these a bit as well, for some "close-ups."

Here is our poor, innocent groundhog, out to gather his morning breakfast:

And here is That Bird attacking our Poor Guy. Poor Guy, to his credit, never really did acknowledge the dastardly attacks of That Bird...

k-ROFL

Trying to install something new

I was just reading over at Typepad Hacks about installing Emoodicons... One thing about me - I looooove the smileys! (and I wish TPad Hacks would start writing again - it's frustrating to find something that might be helpful to me, only to see that they haven't updated in over 6 months!)

So... Let's see if this works.

k-happy

Morning thoughts from Calvin's Institutes

I've just started reading Institutes of the Christian Religion, and it is slow going. It takes a lot of thought because I really want to understand it as well as remember it.

This is the passage which really came to my attention this morning; it's from Book One, chapter 2 "What it is to know God - tendency of this knowledge" (I've made some small changes in the text to make things a wee bit more clear) -

For, first of all, the pious mind does not devise for itself any kind of god, but looks alone to the one true God; nor does it feign for Him any character it pleases, but is contented to have Him in the character in which He manifests Himself, always guarding, with the utmost diligence, against transgressing His will, and wandering, with daring presumption, from the right path.

He by whom God is thus known, perceiving how He governs all things, confided in Him as his guardian and protector, and casts himself entirely upon [God's] faithfulness - perceiving Him to be the source of every blessing, if he is in any strait or feels any want, he instantly recurs to His protection and trusts to His aid - persuaded that [God] is good and merciful, he reclines upon Him with sure confidence, and doubts not that, in the divine clemency, a remedy will be provided for his every time of need - acknowledging Him as his Father and his Lord, he considers himself bound to have respect to His authority in all things, to reverence His majesty, aim at the advancement of His glory, and obey His commands - regarding [God] as a just judge, armed with severity to punish crimes, he keeps the judgment seat always in his view. Standing in awe of it, he curbs himself, and fears to provoke [God's] anger.

The whole point of this section seems to me to be that, the better one knows God - the real and only God - as He has revealed Himself to us in Scripture and the created world, the more one desires to be more like Him. The better I know God, the more I understand His will for me to be holy and righteous like Him. The better I know my Bible, the better I know God, and the better I know HOW God wants me to act, think and worship.

I think a selection from Psalm 25 would be suitable to wrap this up:

Good and upright is the LORD;
   therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
   and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
   for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For your name’s sake, O LORD,
   pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
   Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being,
   and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
   and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
   for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

"The End of Christian America"? Pastor Mark Driscoll responds to Newsweek

Newsweek magazine had an article out in it's May 4th edition, "The End of Christian America." Author Jon Meacham writes:

According to the American Religious Identification Survey that got Mohler's attention, the percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen 10 percentage points since 1990, from 86 to 76 percent. The Jewish population is 1.2 percent; the Muslim, 0.6 percent. A separate Pew Forum poll echoed the ARIS finding, reporting that the percentage of people who say they are unaffiliated with any particular faith has doubled in recent years, to 16 percent; in terms of voting, this group grew from 5 percent in 1988 to 12 percent in 2008—roughly the same percentage of the electorate as African-Americans. (Seventy-five percent of unaffiliated voters chose Barack Obama, a Christian.) Meanwhile, the number of people willing to describe themselves as atheist or agnostic has increased about fourfold from 1990 to 2009, from 1 million to about 3.6 million. (That is about double the number of, say, Episcopalians in the United States.) [...]

Let's be clear: while the percentage of Christians may be shrinking, rumors of the death of Christianity are greatly exaggerated. Being less Christian does not necessarily mean that America is post-Christian. A third of Americans say they are born again; this figure, along with the decline of politically moderate-to liberal mainline Protestants, led the ARIS authors to note that "these trends … suggest a movement towards more conservative beliefs and particularly to a more 'evangelical' outlook among Christians." With rising numbers of Hispanic immigrants bolstering the Roman Catholic Church in America, and given the popularity of Pentecostalism, a rapidly growing Christian milieu in the United States and globally, there is no doubt that the nation remains vibrantly religious—far more so, for instance, than Europe.

(Very interesting article, I suggest you read the whole thing)

Pastor Mark Driscoll, founder and teaching pastor at Mars Hill Church, responds today at FoxNews:

As an evangelical pastor with one of America’s fastest-growing churches in one of its least churched cities, I do not find the report surprising or discouraging. Newsweek missed the subtle — but vital — difference between Christian America and Christendom America.

Christian America is comprised of those people who have had a truly transforming experience with Jesus Christ and are living new lives as practicing Christians. Experts such as sociologist Bradford Wilcox at the University of Virginia have well documented the fact that those who practice Christian faith by reading their Bibles regularly, attending church, praying, and so forth are far less likely to engage in acts such as adultery, divorce, substance abuse, and the like.

Christendom America is comprised of those people who have not had a truly transforming experience with Jesus Christ and are living lives virtually indistinguishable from those who are non-Christians. The confusion is that it was common in Christendom for people who did not practice Christianity to profess Christianity. This was often done for social reasons, such as living in a culture that expected church affiliation, being born into a religious tradition and assuming it was simply part of one’s identity (like a cultural or racial connection), or personally, socially, and vocationally benefiting from being connected, even loosely, to a church or denomination. Researchers such as George Barna have documented the fact that, as Jesus himself said, not everyone who says he or she is a Christian is in fact one.

Subsequently, the Newsweek report simply confirms the fact that, just as Christendom has died in Europe and the major American cities, it is now dying in the suburban and rural areas of America as well. With the social benefits of professing to be a Christian no longer in place and the social stigma of not professing to be a Christian now lifted, those who were part of Christendom America are simply no longer pretending to be part of Christian America.

Since those who professed faith but did not practice faith were confusing to account for, this is actually a good thing. Now, it is more likely that if someone is a Christian or non-Christian, he or she will state so plainly.

Exactly. Just because you live in a garage doesn't make you a car. The lines are becoming more and more clear, and the "nominal" Christians who are not true disciples of Christ are falling away. This is not at all surprising - the Bible speaks of "tares among the wheat" (weeds among the good crop), and that they will be led astray

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Christianity has flourished when the distinction between those who love God and those who reject Him is clear. Mere numbers don't matter: lives filled with holiness and godly love do.

Glow-bull vormening in action

The Weather Channel website is sending an alert out for record low temperatures for the Roanoke/Danville area tonight.

Global Warming... I see how it works, now...

Farewell to my beloved Furr-Nephew, Casey

I just got notice that Casey, the First Cat of our friends Court and Jen, just passed away this morning. Casey was a wonderful cat, and he lived a long life (I think he was 20) surrounded by his devoted and loving humans. He loved to bring presents from the bedroom down to the living room, and he would talk about them all the way down the stairs so you would be prepared for the wonderful treasure he was going to show you. He was also a wonderful ambassador of snuggles and skritchies, and very gracious in permitting everyone to show him adoration.

His passing was quiet and dignified, just like him. He was snuggled in bed, sleeping with his best friend, Court, and slipped away early this morning. I am so glad that he was at home instead of at the vet's! I'm sure he had a wonderful vet, but I also know that the office can be a strange and frightening place; dieing in your own bed, slipping away gently and among friends is surely a better way to leave.

I very much wanted to go down to Metairie before he passed to offer him my own love and snuggles, but he has now gone across the Rainbow Bridge and is with my own darling Romeo, awaiting the arrival of their humans. I'll have to wait until I, too, am called Home to give him his skritchies.

God bless, Casey. We'll miss you dearly!

Songs from the iPod: "In Christ Alone"

I was just listening to the Newsboys singing "In Christ Alone," from their Adoration album, and it's incredibly uplifting! I had searched it out this morning, because I quoted it in yesterday's Gospel post.

Here are the full lyrics:

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Here's something to get you through Monday.... Cat yodeling!

The Sunday Gospel

I've gotta get this out... This is a "reprint," so to speak, of my response to a discussion I've been having with friends. We started with the topic of church discipline, and I had to say some very... hard things. So, below the fold is my response to these dear friends:

Why are you arresting a priest for protecting innocent life?!!!

May God have mercy...

Lord God Almighty, I pray Your protection on this priest and all the men and women in peaceful protest against the presence of pro-abortion - pro-infanticide! - President Obama. I pray that Your hand guides them and helps them act in accordance with Your will, and that their witness for Christ brings shame to Your enemies and the forces of death. Father, You brought this country into being and have blessed it beyond measure with protection, resources, strength, prosperity, and freedom - and we have thrown them all in Your face and made gods of ourselves.

Father, have mercy! Lay Your hand upon us, send Your Spirit to bring us life, bless us with a revival and turn our hearts toward You, lest we are brought to nothing for our grave sins and vanish from the earth. Renew this land, O Lord, give us all hearts of flesh and engrave Your commandments upon them. Convict us of our sin and bring us to our knees, so You may forgive our sin and so we may lift up Your name and be a holy nation to Your glory.

Lord... Have mercy!

Cooper Levy-Baker: Portrait of a leftist libtard

Here's his 15 seconds of brainless burbling, and here is LindaSoG's reasoned refutation of his "charges" against Chrissie.

I'm going to reprint here the comment I left at Chrissie's blog on Linda's post:

I can't believe that anyone would be so cruel to Chrissie! I have never met her in person, but she is the sweetest, kindest and most generous lady in the world!

When I was down in Orlando for my Mom's second knee replacement surgery, Crissie tracked me down just so she could offer me encouragement and prayer. She was insistent that if I needed ANYTHING, I was to call her and she'd do whatever she could to help out.

I cannot imagine any leftist turd having such a generosity of spirit paired with a loving and humble attitude, and this idiot, Cooper, does nothing to change my mind.

Chrissie, I'm sending lots of hugs and prayer, and if you need ANYTHING, it would be my honor and joy to return the wonderful kindness you gave to me!

Love and hugz, my friend; don't let the turkeys get you down. After all, as my Mom might say, "Consider the source!" ;-)

This is yet another example of how the left is all for free speech - so long as you agree with them. They cannot tolerate anyone breaking out of the stereotypes or changing for the better without becoming a victim dependent on government handouts.  God forbid you should be a minority woman and a conservative (like Michelle Malkin, who has had to move because a libtard published her home address) or a gay conservative (they'll out you, you know - they have no respect for your privacy if you don't toe their line), or a black conservative (don't you know you're an Uncle Tom if you stray off the liberal plantation?)

Stay strong, Chrissie - you've got lots of friends who love you and respect you.

Including me.

Proud of my Beloved Munchkin!

The darling girl brought her school folder in to me this morning, and in it was a notification that she has earned the recognition of a

NATIONAL HONOR STUDENT!

Yay! I am so proud of my baby girl (who's not a baby, but she'll always be MY "baby"...)

I predict the newest fashion: Fetish gear

... 'cause Vice President Biden is going to have to walk around with a gag in his mouth...

AWESOME bumper sticker!

God bless our Marines and all our armed forces. They also fight so that some moron can also write, "Obama rocks" on my dusty car.[UPDATE, now that I'm not posting from my cellphone: Of course, I should be grateful that they only drew in the dust vs. scratching it into my paint...]

Yep. Obama rocks so much that he's quadrupled our national debt, insulted several key allies, and loves to appoint crooks and tax cheats... just to name a FEW "minor" gaffes...

Conviction - it ain't fun, but it is proof of the love of God

I just don't know why these verses have just kept coming up, over and over, in my life the past couple of weeks. (Well... Yes, I do know why they keep coming up: God is obviously trying to hammer something into my thick brain!)

But about the time I posted this, someone on my RSS feeds had a post about 2 Timothy 2:24-26, which hadn't really come to my attention before, even though I'm sure I must have read it -

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

I don't remember who it was, and I don't think I'm even going to try and track them down, but those verses really smacked me in the face. I don't generally like to get really down-and-dirty combative - but I have. I do enjoy snark a bit more than is really healthy...

And one verse which I DO know and have even pulled out recently in an argument over which words did and didn't fall under swearing, and whether Christians should use them or not:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

Not, "let only a little corrupting talk," not "let some corrupting talk," but "let NO corrupting talk" come out of our mouths. Add to this the command in 2 Tim. 2, that I musn't be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone. Not only that, but I must patiently endure evil, and I must correct my foes gently...

 Ow.

I mean, really - OW!

I believe that I've got a bit of prayerful repentance to do... AND I've got to figure out how to hold the line in critical areas without bitterness, rancor, and snark...

Never mind "a bit" of prayerful repentance... I've got a LOT of it to do...

Having lunch at Red Lobster

How wonderful to be out with my darling mommy and daddy! They're so sweet, and I am so blessed that I still have them.

A lovely Sauvignon Blanc at the Club

After a long day with family, sometimes a glass of wine is just what you need! And the staff at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club are as wonderful and gracious as ever. Their kindness was a HUGE help a few years ago (each time) when Mom went through knee replacement surgery. So while I wait for dinner, they serve me wine and bless me with their WONDERFUL hospitality.

Carrie Prejean: Strength, class, and grace

The money quote:

“I am excited to continue my duty as Miss California, USA. All I want to be able to do is to tell my story, which no one can take away from me. Not everyone may like me or agree with me…but I hope at the end of the day, everyone can respect my rights, as I respect theirs; and together we can bring back civility in our social and cultural discussions. I am convinced, now more than ever, of the importance for standing up for your beliefs and convictions. For everyone out there listening - do not be silenced. Take this story of mine and apply it to your own life. I hope I’ve inspired others to maintain compassion, civility, respect, and tolerance - while staying true to your convictions…and to never, ever, compromise your beliefs in the pursuit [of your] goals, regardless of the consequences. [emph. mine]

Gardinias in the morning

I love the beautiful aroma of gardinias... Maybe I'll plant some at home someday.

Wanna go TOO!

The Kittipurrs don't want me to go... Sorry, darlings - your GrammaCat needs me to help out for a bit.

Olive Garden Zeppoli - two thumbs up!

O. M. G!!! Too delicious for words! YumyumyumyumYUMMY!

Who's on first? And do I need Windows? (an updated classic...)

My dear Cotillion blog-sis, Janette, forwarded this on to the group, and it's just TOO GOOD to pass up!

If you don't know the original, watch this first:

And now that you've seen that, here's the version for the 21^st century (UPDATE 26Nov09 - the author of this skit has contacted me, so I am delighted to add his information: by Tom King (c) 2009 - Some Rights Reserved - used by permission of the author):

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out something like this:

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software...

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "W" if you don't start with some straight answers... What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on "START".............

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!

Oh, what a beautiful morning!

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
   that I may enter through them
   and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
    the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing;
   it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
   let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:19-24, ESV)

Yesterday we got a lot of (much needed) rain, and this morning the air is crisp and clear like fine crystal. The rising sun coaxed mist from the damp ground and gilded the trees with a soft glory. Birds are singing, a light breeze stirs the air, and God is on His throne!

Mount up with wings like eagles!

Isaiah 40:30-31

Even youths shall faint and be weary,
   and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
   they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
   they shall walk and not faint.

Biblical note from today's Tabletalk devotional

This year, Tabletalk's focus has been on the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul, and today we really begin to get into 1 Timothy. Paul opens with his usual style of greeting, and then immediately tells Timothy

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

This morning's devotion ends with a striking paragraph, which bears considerable thought:

Even Christians in our day can get lost in conjectures that offer no real benefit to the church at large. Speculations about the present identity of Gog and Magog (Ezek. 39:1-6; Rev. 20:7-10), America's place in biblical prophecy, and the like, while not heretical in themselves, usually contribute little in the way of edification to the bride of Christ. Let us take care that we not get absorbed in uncertainties, let alone break fellowship over secondary issues.

Indeed, this is an admonishment that Christians truly need to take to heart! Too often I have seen rather intense and angry discussions on pre- or post-Tribulation Rapture, for instance, which do not point to the true subject: Jesus.

It's interesting that this comes up today, because on the way home from church yesterday, the Munchkin expressed a desire to study the book of Revelation. Since we (of course!) had our Bibles with us, I asked her to turn to Revelation and read the first three verses -

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

First of all, note that this book of prophecy is, first and foremost, the revelation of Jesus Christ! All prophecy points, ultimately, to Jesus. In that sense, the whole Bible is prophecy, even when the literary style is not the prophetic (as in "future-telling") genre. Therefore, the primary purpose of prophecy is NOT to satisfy our desire to know the future, but to reveal the perfection and glory of our God and Savior.

Never forget that

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

And this verse from Deuteronomy brings us to the second purpose of prophecy: our obedience. Look at the last sentence:

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. [emph. mine]

Doesn't that go right along with "... that we may do all the words of the law"?

Thus, the second purpose of prophecy is to make us consider, "If this is what is to come, how should I NOW live?"

Knowing that Christ will return to judge the world, how should His disciples live? Will Jesus return and find us living holy lives of humility and repentance? Will He find us diligent and faithful in our vocations? Will He return and find us living lives worthy of His commendation?

God's desire for His children is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son. He wants us to be sanctified and holy.

In light of these two purposes of prophecy, should we not, as Christian brothers and sisters, discuss nonessential doctrines with love and grace rather than anger? Pre- and post-Tribulation eschatology is interesting to discuss, but we shouldn't allow ourselves to disfellowship over a difference of opinion! Therefore, let us remember Christian liberty, and die only on those doctrinal hills we MUST defend at all costs.

Proper biblical exegesis is important, yes, and certainly one or both views could be wrong, yes; but the critical things to remember are: all prophecy reveals Jesus, and all prophecy should stir us to live lives of faithful and humble discipleship for the love of Christ which has been shed abroad in our hearts.

Waking up to songs from KLOVE

You paint the night
You count the stars and call them by name
The skies proclaim
God You reign
Your glory shines
You teach the sun when to bring a new day
Creation sings
God You reign

God You reign
God You reign
Forever and ever
God You reign

You part the seas
You move the mountains with the words that You say
My song remains
God You reign
You hold my life
You know my heart and You call me by name
I live to say God You reign

Hallelujah, hallelu

God You reign
God You reign
Forever and ever
God You reign!

-- Lincoln Brewster

God reigns over the nations;
   God sits on his holy throne. (Psalm 47:8)

The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!
   He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! (Psalm 99:1)

The LORD will reign forever,
   your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 146:10)

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

   "Hallelujah!For the Lord our God
   the Almighty reigns. (Revelation 19:6)

Faith plus nothing - or, "Picking a fight on a Sunday"

Well, not a fight, exactly, but rather a re-visitation of ("to"?) a topic some friends and I were discussing on New Year's Day. I didn't post anything about it here - it was all on the e-mail list - but it's been bugging me for the past couple of months.

Anyway, we basically refought the Reformation, and one of my buddies pulled out a verse to use as support of "faith PLUS works." Philippians 2:12b -

...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

Thing is, my mind wasn't in the right place when we were discussing this, because I forgot about that old saw "Text, without context, is pretext." After all, Philippians 2:13 continues

...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. [emph. mine]

Certainly, I will agree that works of Christian faith are important -after all, God has prepared good works for us to do from before the foundations of the earth:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

But our works cannot save us, for they are all tainted by sin. Only the works that we do through faith in Christ, in worship of and obedience to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, are considered worthy offerings to God. And, as I said, those works have nothing to do with gaining our salvation - they only display the proof of it to an unbelieving world.

Salvation is of God alone, through faith alone, in the finished and perfect work of Christ alone.

God has taken dead men (yeah, yeah, and women and children, too), and He has made us alive in Christ. He has taken us  out of the kingdom of sin and darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son. It is He who has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, and He who will complete that work.

Yes, as children of the Most High, our lives are to reflect and display the glory and perfection of our Father. We are to take up our cross and follow Him as diligent and faithful disciples. We are to be witnesses to His power and forgiveness. We are called to proclaim His grace and mercy through how we live our lives...

But that is the outworking of the salvation He has given us, and the natural consequence of His power and will working through us. It is not anything we are doing of ourselves to gain or retain the gift of lovingkindness by which He has given us life.

Therefore, because it is God who works in us and through us, and because salvation is of God alone... Therefore we can proclaim, "To God alone be the glory!"

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

So, that's my little Sunday Smackdown. Go check out the linked verses - and their context - and give praise to God Most High for His wonderful, awesome love and kindness to dead sinners!