CatHouse Chat

God is faithful - and He has His people EVERYWHERE

We had a nasty scare today: we accidentally left my Hilton Grand Vacations beach bag at A-Bay today, and when we returned for it -within about 20 minutes - it was gone. A nearby family said that a gentleman had asked them if it was theirs, so we went looking for him and didn't find him.

Up and down A-Bay beach we went, and I confess that I fretted quite a bit. That wasn't surprising, since it had BOTH our wallets, BOTH our cell phones *AND* my beautiful Canon Rebel XSi camera!

But before I went completely off the rails, God in His kindness and grace reminded me to focus on HIM and His plan. Whatever happened - whether the bag turned up untouched or whether we had to wade through the nightmare of identity fraud - whatever happened, He was watching over me and my family. He would take care of it one way or another, and EVERYTHING would work out to His glory and to encourage me in my faith and help me learn to walk closer to Him.

God gave me opportunity to give a small witness of confidence in Him to several people, and I pray that His name will be glorified by it.

And God does not leave His children floating in the abyss! He didn't have to, but He chose in His grace to reward my poor effort of active faith with the return of the bag - the Beloved Husband is picking it up at the Hilton hotel's lost and found right now. The gentleman who picked it up did not leave his name, but I firmly believe that he was one of God's "earthly angels" doing the work of service and encouragement.

God is good. He is kind. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He's watching over me.

Thank You, Lord!

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

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.

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!

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

... by Stuart Townend, is a "modern" hymn which well deserves a place in the canon of true anthems of the Church. I label it "modern" only because Mr. Townend is alive and has penned it within the past 50 (actually, I think it's less than 5 years old...) years. It is a sad thing that the present day Church, at least in America, appears to have turned to "praise choruses," and set aside the classic hymns which are so rich in good theology and true adoration of our glorious God and Savior.

Mr. Townend tells a little bit of the story behind the hymn:

I'd been meditating on the cross, and in particular what it cost the Father to give up his beloved Son to a torturous death on a cross. And what was my part in it? Not only was it my sin that put him there, but if I'd lived at that time, it would probably have been me in that crowd, shouting with everyone else 'crucify him'. It just makes his sacrifice all the more personal, all the more amazing, and all the more humbling.

Amen!

At any rate, on Good Friday, my iPod gave me Fernando Ortega's recording of this song, and it brought me to my knees in repentance and gratitude for all that my Savior has done for me. As the quote from John Newton (who penned "Amazing Grace," one of the great anthems of Christianity) says, "... I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior."

And I, too, am a great sinner. It is only by the grace of God Most High that I am able to make any small gesture of faith and love to His glory. I thank Him and praise Him for the mercy and kindness He has poured into my life, because I know I do not deserve them!

So, in hopes that the lyrics will encourage and edify you as well, here they are:

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Indeed and AMEN! Thank You, Jesus, my beloved Savior. Thank You for choosing the Cross, and thank You for claiming me!

Sunday thoughts on 2 Peter 1:3-8

Church today was awesome, even though Pastor Hank's message was rather somber ("Master Crafted: A Sinner's Hopeless Condition" from Ephesians 2:1-3). Hopefully I'll have the video edited and published sometime this week, but I'm working with a new video editor, Kdenlive, and it's giving me a few headaches at the moment. [miffed look at kdenlive]

Anyway, one scripture Pastor Hank brought up near the end of his sermon really grabbed me, 2 Peter 1:5,6... I'll reproduce verses 3 through 8, though, to put things in context:

[God's] divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Look at that first statement: "God's power HAS GRANTED ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness..."

Christian, we have God's very own power to empower us to live lives pleasing to Him. We, unlike natural man, have the real choice as to whether we obey God! He gave us His power and His love and His guidance and His Word - ALL THINGS NEEDED - so that we may follow Him and live righteous and godly lives.

When Hank brought up these verses, he prefaced them with the remark that he often gets an unsure response when he asks if people know that they know that they know that they KNOW they are saved. That uncertainty, he said, is quite possibly because we may not be growing in our faith. And, we may not be growing because we think we are unable to do what God requires.

But God has given us ALL things so that we may use His power to accomplish what He commands! So, if I may, I'll rephrase vv. 5,6:

Because God's Holy Spirit lives within the Christian, we have His power to have faith in Him. We have His power to increase our faith with virtue, increase our virtue with knowledge, increase our knowledge with self-control, increase our self-control with steadfastness, increase our steadfastness with godliness, increase our godliness with brotherly affection, increase our brotherly affection with love... Which goes back to increasing our faith.

God has given us everything we need to grow in Him and to work out our own salvation to His glory! But too many of us - and I include myself - don't delve in to the abundant power and grace God has for us. We don't read our Bibles, we don't memorize Scripture, we don't pray, we don't earnestly and passionately take up our cross to follow Him.

We need to take up our cross DAILY and follow Him DAILY. If we do, we will abound in the fruit of the Spirit

• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness
• self-control

We will abound in faith, and our internal sense of salvation will grow ever stronger. More importantly, we will be effective and friutful servants of our Savior, and will bring glory to His wonderful name.

After all

Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever.*

And so, Lent begins...

I'm not Catholic and I don't generally observe their liturgical calendar, but Lent is somewhat different.

For those of you who might not know, Lent is the forty days prior to Easter Sunday. Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, is the day when we as Christians celebrate the physical resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, from the grave. Lent, the time leading up to Easter, has traditionally been a time of fasting and reflection, a time to meditate on all Jesus has done on our behalf because of the great love He has for His people.

Sadly, these days, many Christians reduce the pain and suffering and infinite sacrifice to a trite "Jesus died on the Cross for your sins." Very true, but simple, shallow, and without the context of Who Jesus is, what we are, and the wonder of the indescribable grace of God. We need to refresh our understanding of Jesus' sacrifice and what He went through on our behalf, so that our lives can be renewed with the awe and gratitude we owe our wonderful Savior.

If you are interested in really trying to understand the Cross and the Resurrection, if you really want to put meaning back into this season of reflection, remembrance and repentance, first I earnestly implore you to read your Bible. Go through the Gospels and read of Jesus' life here on earth, His love and tender care, His patience and kindness, His anger with hypocrisy and injustice, and His willing sacrifice. Read carefully with an open heart and a sober mind, considering all that Jesus went through for you. Prayerfully ask the Father to remove your stony heart of sin and rebellion and give you a new heart of flesh that desires to follow and glorify Him.

He will do it. That's why He came; to seek and save His lost sheep who have gone astray.

An intent and honest search of the Scriptures is really quite sufficient, but for further reflection I would also suggest

• watching the Passion of the Christ
• watching The Visual Bible: Matthew (beginning about Matthew 20, for time's sake)
• listening to Mark Driscoll's series Christ on the Cross

... or watching this video from the series Doctrine:

Jesus has done so much for us, and He has sent His Spirit into the world to convict it of sin and righteousnes and judgement... But if you hear that voice, if you see your sin and the perfect righteousness of God, do not despair! Do not despair, for He has sent that same Spirit to give you new life and rebirth into a new family. He has sent His Spirit to live within you and testify that you are His:

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:14-17, ESV)

Through the Cross, Jesus pays the debt we cannot pay so that we may escape the wrath we cannot bear and gain the peace we do not deserve.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-11, ESV)

Hallelujah to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! Blessing and honor and strength and praise be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit! Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, and He has shown us His great love and mercy! All creation shall bow to Him and testify to His righteousness, and His people shall rejoice in Him forever and glorify His great and worthy name!

Amen and Amen.

Hurrah! Success!

For the past month or so, ever since it was announced that Google Video was going to stop accepting new uploads, I've been searching for a site that would host the video I take of my pastor's sermons. GodTube (now tangle.com for reasons which still mystify me - what a moronic choice!) and YouTube would not accept them; although they were under the storage limit, they were well over the time limit. I really did NOT want to split the videos into three or four parts, but...

*frustrated HUFF!*

LiveLeak and a few others all seemed much too focused on politics for Christian sermons to meld happily into the mix, and I was seriously considering asking my computer-guru Husband to free up some space on the server for the outside world to access. It wasn't the best solution, because we're on rural DSL (hey, I'm grateful for the broadband access out here, don't get me wrong!) and the bandwidth, from what I understand, would make the video capture very slow. Plus, you know, not too excited about opening up OUR network to all the barbaric yahoos out there... ;-)

And then I found Vimeo...

What I like about Vimeo is that their free accounts have a 500meg weekly upload limit - storage space only; they don't care about the length. Plus, one HiDef file per week (within the 500meg limit). If I want to upgrade to a paid account at $60/year, the weekly limit soars to FIVE GIG, plus UNLIMITED HD videos (and no ads...). Not bad; I might consider it in the future.

So, THANK YOU, Vimeo! I'm looking forward to a long and happy association.

(and in my next post, I present with delight my Pastor, Hank, talking about Marriage Secrets - How to Make It)

Are you in the market for a new Bible?

Well, then, I've got an AWESOME deal for you, but you're going to have to jump on it quickly: I have no idea how long the price will hold.

I love my old John MacArthur New King James Version Study Bible (except mine is black), but it's binding isn't the best ("imitation leather" - yikes) and it was getting pretty torn and tattered (which is, actually, a GOOD thing for a Bible - they should be read to death!).

So this is what I've been eying as a replacement:

I've been very interested in the English Standard Bible (ESV) for quite a while, but I tend to prefer study Bibles, and the ESV only recently came out with one. Plus, a lot of the ESV Bibles I've seen have a very small - 7.2 point - typeface (my one quibble with this translation), so I was looking for a larger type without going to a "large print" Bible, and this study Bible "fixes" that issue. I'm also hoping that this Bible will be with me for years and years, so I really wanted a genuine leather cover, rather than the pretend stuff (which never seems to wear well).

However,leather-bound Bibles can get very expensive (here's the actual listing at Crossway - scroll down - $95 plus shipping!), and I didn't really think I could justify spending that at this time - and so I resigned myself to dream from afar.

Image via CrunchBase

Enter Amazon.com! My heroes! They have this magnificent Bible for only about $60 at the moment - about what I'd pay for a study Bible with an average binding. Due to a very high demand, it is temporarily out of stock, so I'll have to wait a bit (the end of February, at least) until Amazon gets it back in, but that's OK!!!! For this kind of price on this quality Bible, I can wait ;-)

So, if you're in the market for a new Bible, I can highly recommend this translation AND this edition! I'm very excited to get it in my hands and make it into a well-loved friend. But like I said, you'd better jump on the band wagon QUICK, because I don't know how long Amazon is going to hold that incredibly awesome price!

Congratulations to the TwoDragons family!

Eric the Mad Monk and his lovely wife Denita have received a wonderful Christmas present - their second child, Tabitha. Make sure you go on over and offer congratulations!

Now I've got to dig out their address so I can send Tabitha's baby quilt out...

Songs from the radio

Coming home from class tonight, this beautiful song by Shaun Groves, "Welcome Home," came on -

Take me, make me
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking

Welcome to this heart of mine
I've buried under prideful vines
Grown to hide the mess I've made
Inside of me
Come decorate, Lord
Open up the creaking door
And walk upon the dusty floor
Scrape away the guilty stains
Until no sin or shame remain
Spread Your love upon the walls
And occupy the empty halls
Until the man I am has faded
No more doors are barricaded

Chorus:
Come inside this heart of mine
It's not my own
Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own
Welcome home

Take a seat, pull up a chair
Forgive me for the disrepair
And the souvenirs from floor to ceiling
Gathered on my search for meaning
Every closet's filled with clutter
Messes yet to be discovered
I'm overwhelmed, I understand
I can't make this place all that You can

repeat chorus

I took the space that You placed in me
Redecorated in shades of greed
And I made sure every door stayed locked
Every window blocked, and still You knocked

repeat chorus

Take me, make me
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking

You can hear a clip from this song, recorded on his Invitation to Eavesdrop album, here.

Oh, how descriptive of our hearts and souls! How we resist and fight the Hand of God when He calls us! How foolish we are to go our own way and redecorate in greed and selfishness, when God wants to adorn us with His grace, love, kindness, joy, and peace.

Thank You, Father, for pursuing and chasing after us. You are indeed the Hound of Heaven, and without Your love that hunts us down and captures us in Your tender grasp, we would be eternally lost. Thank You for holding us fast in Your hand; thank You for promising that no one cane take us out of Your holy grasp!

Busy, busy week so far!

On Monday, the Beloved Husband and I accompanied the Darling Munchkin to the very nice, awesome, and excellent school we hope she'll be admitted to for her high school years. I had very high expectations of this school going in to the orientation - and they blew them all to smithereens! If our Munchkin is accepted there, she will get a stellar education, and will be perfectly well prepared fr college.

Of course, the price tag is a shocker (what a surprise!), so it will take a lot of prayer and hard work - but the Beloved and I know it will be worth it.

Then that evening, I went to my tax prep class, since I'd missed my normal morning session. It was a very good thing I did, because I got some excellent gouge (that's mil-speak for "good information") about the mid-term exam on Wednesday.

Tuesday, I studied, and then went to the after-school robotics workshop and "enjoyed" the enthusiasm of the kids (IOW, they have the attention span of gnats [sorry to insult gnats], and drove me nuts). Regional competition is barely a month away, and they've got to pull things together!!!

Wednesday, I aced my mid-term!!! One Hundred Percent Correct!!! I knew I'd pass, but I really wanted to get everything correct. It was a good thing (well, for me, anyway) the other two students weren't there, because I muttered and reasoned and commented my way through the whole exam; for some reason, talking through the problems aloud tends to help me concentrate and double check my work.

And then, that afternoon, I had an excellent ride on my dear buddy Jimmy, who is a wonderful Saddlebred gelding. He generally doesn't care to take the left lead when cantering (he'd rather try to rack, which is rather an odd feel if you're expecting the three-beat pace of a canter), but Wednesday, he picked it up right away. Apparently, I was also looking good, because the stable owner (a wonderful lady; I love her to bits) advised that I really ought to just buy Jimmy - and was only half joking! LOL Nooooooo, cant buy a horse when we have tuition for the Excellent School coming up in a few years! (Darn... 'Cause Jim-Jimmy-Jimmers is a great horse, and I adore him).

Yesterday... What did I do yesterday?! Oh, yeah, I went with a friend to WalMart, where we purchased a lot of supplies for the three Robotics teams. Her husband came along, too, and we all had lunch together... And then talked politics on the way back home (arg - not fun!).

The main thing we spoke of was the whole "Joe the Plumber" issue. My friend's husband claimed that "Joe" was mistaken, and that his taxes would not be affected - and missed the entire point of Obama's socialistic/communistic response:

This is a more complete video than the one I saw originally (which I prefer: I like things as much in context as possible), but at around the 1:20 and 3:00 minute marks, Sen. Obama talks about "spreading the wealth around," which is socialistic and communistic. That is government forcing people to give up an excessive amount of their hard-earned money, and penalizing them for their work and effort.

Now, I understand that taxes are a necessary evil - to some extent. The Federal government has to maintain the military to defend us, interstates need to be kept up, and so on - but our tax code has become so large and unwieldy that even the IRS can't keep up with it all! Joe bought up a flat tax, and Obama's response, though it sounds good and thoughtful, is merely an avoidance of a serious problem. Frankly, our tax code needs to be scrapped in its entirety and replaced (*wince* Ow - that hurt just typing it!) with something that gets out of the way of productivity, entrepreneurship, investing and saving; is simple, clear and easy to understand; and which is locked in so that lobbyists and special interest groups cannot screw around with it.

Yes, even if I get a job in tax preparation, I would love for that job to become obsolete because something like the FairTax was passed and adopted. Until then, I will do my best to serve my clients by making sure that the government doesn't get one red cent that my client doesn't owe them!

*sigh*

So, at the moment, I've got a stew bubbling away in the crock pot, I've completed my homework for my tax class, and I'm going through the news... And I'm feeling a little troubled and worried, because I cannot see anything good coming, no matter who gets elected in November! So, I need to remember Jesus' words to His disciples:

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Thank You, Lord, for Your watchcare over Your children. You know our fears, our worries and our troubles, You know our frailties and failures. Please let us turn to You when we are burdened with the cares of the world; remind us that You are still in control, You are still sovereign, and there is nothing that comes to pass that You have not foreseen and permitted and brought to pass. You alone are God, and Your mighty hand works to order history according to Your good and perfect will.

In Your Providence, nations rise and fall, rulers reign and die, and countries wax and wane in influence. You alone are God, You alone are ruler over all the universe, and You alone will receive the glory at the end of the age. All knees will bow before you, and every tongue will confess that You reign in righteousness. Your judgment is just and holy and true, and You will mold all things for Your glory and for the good of Your children.

Thank You, Father, for Your mercy and grace, for Your patient lovingkindness, and for the abundant blessings You shower upon us. I pray that Your love and forbearance will do their work and turn all our hearts to You in repentance and willing obedience to Your will. I pray that You will receive glory from a nation that returns to her Eternal Father, and again lifts up the name of Christ Jesus in honor, thanksgiving and praise for all He has done. In His blessed and exalted name, amen.

Even in the little things that never seem to big to me
In the things I thought didn’t matter much at all
As simple as my daily bread
To the strength I need to get out of bed
When I fly or when I am about to fall
Oh it's you in me that I fail to see

Make me aware, make me see
That everything I am is not all about me
So Take my world and turn it around
So that the obvious can finally be found
Make me aware, make me aware

When my life is hanging from a thread
And I think about the things you said
that in this moment seem so far away
Help me see the guarantees
That first brought me to believe
So I can make through another day
Oh it's you in me that helps me breathe

Make me aware, make me see
That everything I am is not all about me
So Take my world and turn it around
So that the obvious can finally be found
Make me aware

I have been missing so much
Not recognizing your touch
Or Acknowledging that you’re the reason
I'm even here
I have been missing so much not recognizing your touch

Make me aware, make me aware
Help me see that everything I am is not all about me
Take my world turn it around so that the obvious can finally be found
Make me aware, make me aware

                                                     Salvador, "Aware," from their album Aware (2008)

I AM FREE!

Heard on KLOVE this morning: the Newsboys "I Am Free" -

I am free to run,
I am free to dance,
I am free to live for You,
I am free!

"For whom the Son sets free is free indeed!" (John 8:36)

(UPDATED with links and proper quotes, since I can't do that from my cell phone... Yet. LOL)

Yes, these are REAL family values

After all the mudslinging and vile rhetoric from the Kossacks, Alan Colmes, Andrew Sullivan and their ilk about the Palin family, the McCain campaign (oops - forgot to type that originally) decided to break the news today that Bristol Palin is pregnant. The Independent offers a more detailed quote from the Palins:

"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support," the Palins said.

The Palins asked the news media to respect the young couple's privacy.

"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media, respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates," the statement concluded.

Senior McCain campaign officials said McCain knew of the daughter's pregnancy when he selected Palin last week as his vice presidential running mate, deciding that it did not disqualify the 44-year-old governor in any way.

See, now while - if Bristol Palin were my daughter (and obviously she's not) - I would have preferred the marriage to come before the baby, I agree that the support her family is offering is entirely appropriate. Instead of sweeping this under the carpet, Bristol has stepped up to do the right thing and committed herself to her young man and their child.

Of course, the feminazis and the looney left will excoriate young Bristol because she has chosen not to abort this child. You see, they're only supportive of women's coices, and women's control over their own bodies when those choices and that control follow the anti-life, nihilistic worldview that N.O.W., NARAL and the looney left espouse. The hypocrisy will hopefully be glaringly evident to all in the coming days.

Even people with true family values make mistakes. However, they accept them, and then step up to the plate and deal with them. They bear the consequences, and they rejoice when a new baby arrives to prove that God brings beauty from ashes, and can make all things work together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.

Bristol, may He bless you and your young man with a Christ-centered marriage. May you live and love each other and your children for many glorious years. May He guide, keep and protect you as you raise your child in Him with courage and honor.

UPDATE: OK, for all you who are convinced that the "family values Nazis" of the right will condemn Bristol...? How about the reaction of Mr. Family Values himself - Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family? Here's their input:

"Being a Christian does not mean you're perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord. I've been the beneficiary of that forgiveness and restoration in my own life countless times, as I'm sure the Palins have.

"The media are already trying to spin this as evidence Gov. Palin is a 'hypocrite,' but all it really means is that she and her family are human. They are in my prayers and those of millions of Americans."

Family values must include the concept and actions of grace - for who among us has never made a mistake? We all make mistakes, we all sin. It is how we bear the consequences of that sin that shows how well we follow our family values.

UPDATE again (and now I'm just going to update with more links):

The Anchoress advises us to watch out for who is actually tolerant and intolerant

Kim Priestap at Wizbang reminds us that babies are blessings, not punishment

From the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission:

“This is the pro-life choice. The fact that people will criticize her for this shows the astounding extent to which the secular critics of the pro-life movement just don’t get it. Those who criticize the Palin family don’t understand that we don’t see babies as a punishment but as a blessing. Barack Obama said that if one of his daughters made a mistake and got pregnant out of wedlock he wouldn’t want her to be punished with a child. Pro lifers don’t see a child as punishment.”

More reactions from the Christian right:

Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America called the pregnancy private. "It's a matter that should stay in the family and they have to work through it together. My prayers go out to them."

Added Combs: "We're excited about the governor and think she's going to do well."

Mathew Staver, dean of Liberty University School of Law, said: "We're all sinners."

"We all make mistakes. Certainly, the ideal is not to get pregnant out of wedlock. But she made the right decision after her mistake," he said.

Protein Wisdom weighs in:

That the Palin family — by dint of ugly rumor mongering from “progressive activists” and a compliant left-leaning press that was cynically situating itself to pretend that these rumors “needed investigating” — was all but compelled to release information about their teenage daughter, is precisely the kind of thing that drives real civil libertarians and privacy advocates crazy, especially because the information has nothing whatever to do with Governor Palin’s candidacy, but instead invades the privacy (and quite possibly affects the “choice”) of a minor.

This kind of savage smear campaign by leftists and so-called “feminists” — a campaign that forced a young woman to make public a very private matter in order to stop vicious rumors about the Palin family — suggests that, when it comes to “privacy concerns” (NSA data mining for terrorists = bad; demanding the release of a Governor’s medical records = good; parental notification for abortions performed on women under a certain age = bad; insisting that the world be privy to the private sexual and family concerns of the seventeen-year-old daughter of a conservative = good), “progressives” care about such things only insofar as it protects their political interests and advances their political agenda.

"Well done..."

I'm sure that when Tony Snow passed into eternity, he was greeted with those words from his Savior.

I am thankful that I went over to the Corner today and linked out to Kathryn Jean Lopez's article about Tony's funeral yesterday. She quoted from President Bush's eulogy which ended with this paragraph:

And so today we send this man of faith and character and joy on his final journey. Tony Snow has left the City of Washington for the City of God. May he find eternal rest in the arms of his Savior. And may the Author of all creation watch over his family and all those who loved him, admired him, and will always cherish his memory.

Kathryn comments:

In an environment where man and manhood are often subject to derision, it’s important to celebrate good men who aren’t afraid to recognize there’s a power greater than their own. It’s important to celebrate good men who know the right order of things. It’s important to celebrate good men who have some clue as to what to do with a charge like King David’s; they know that ultimately it’s the charge of another King, who promises more than any presidential candidate — even Barack Obama! — can. And their examples are living moral compasses in a confusing world.

And Snow, like Bush, wasn’t holier than thou about it. They’re but men — that’s the point — and they’re men who love life, love love, love fun. They’re men not threatened by tears, especially if the topic is family, but with no interest in being feminized. Tony’s brother Jim said of their childhood, Tony was evidence that “you can get into a little trouble and still turn out okay.” What a relief to boys the world over. When the time came to put away childish things, we all saw Tony Snow as a protector (in a national sense, even) and provider (why he left the White House, to make sure he could give his family everything he could before he had to go obediently serve Him who promises “better…bigger” for eternity).

The president said: “Tony Snow has left the City of Washington for the City of God.” As he made his way elsewhere, he left behind an inspiring example of commitment to the eternal. May we all keep our hearts open enough so that light from the City of God can shine in, even on the chaos of life on the Potomac.

Indeed.

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Good morning, Glory!

It is good to see this beautiful morning glory again this year. Last year it showed up to bless us with its splendor, and I'm glad it's back. It is a lovely, though pale, reflection of God's own beauty and glory, and a welcome reminder of my Savior and King.

So, welcome, Glory!

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.
(Psalm 90:17)

Talent truly on loan from God

I understand this video was taken pretty recently, from what I see on the YouTube page:

Beautiful, inspiring... STUNNING!

I pray this young lady goes far, and I pray that she keeps her sweet and lovely attitude, as well...

Kittipurrs to one of my Cotillion sisters, and to Julie, who posted it at Degrees of Madness.

I didn't want to be a Mom!

Yet, lo these many years ago, the alarm bell went off, and BelovedHubby and I decided to take the plunge, and this is what God blessed us with:

She is our joy and our treasure... And, as I said to another friend,

This is what it's all about... They tear your heart out in the most joyous and tender way, and then they hand it back to you with a smile, filled up with all these wonderful moments... Snapshots of love-bursts that get you through hard times, make you a better person, and stay with you until the end of your days...

Yep. And thank the Good Lord Above for these beautiful, incredible people who happen to be our kids!

A song that's been on my mind...

Jimmy Wayne, "I Love You This Much"...

Pass House Resolution 888!

Affirming the rich spiritual and religious history of our Nation's founding and subsequent history and expressing support for designation of the first week in May as `American Religious History Week' for the appreciation of and education on America's history of religious faith.

Congressman Randy Forbes introduced this resolution, and I pray it comes out of committee soon and is passed... I would love to give a poke in the eye to those who mistakenly insist that our founders were not godly and religious men!

Here's the text of the resolution...

Just a little quiet time alone... With You

Last night at church, during the meeting for the Bible study groups going through Experiencing God, our pastor asked us to respond to one of the statements from the video, which had first made an appearance in last week's study:

I hear many people say, "I really struggle trying to have time alone with God." If that is a problem you face, let me suggest something; make the priority in your life to love Him with all your heart... People who struggle to spend time with God don't have a scheduling problem; they have a love problem. (p. 59)

The silence in the room went on for a while. I know that *I* didn't want to say anything because I know it's a problem in my life.

But as the members of our little group opened up, I listened and realized that I wasn't all that unusual: we all had problems getting away and finding time alone with God. We all struggled with guilt and a lack of faithful time with our loving Father. I wasn't alone in this.

Suddenly I realized that God doesn't require me to sit and study the Bible for hours on end - that's important, but that's not a relationship. I realized that I didn't have to meet with Him from 6:23 a.m. to 6:48 a.m. every day for a "quiet time" - that's legalistic. I didn't have to have a set schedule of 10 minutes of prayer, 15 of Bible study, three hymns, one teaching program and an hour of interceding for my country and my family... No.

God simply wants me to spend some time... with Him. He just wants me to talk... to Him. The irritations and fears and triumphs of the day need to be discussed... with Him. That wonderful song which touched my heart so much needs to be shared... with Him.

God just wants me to be with Him and love Him.

You know, He gave me a great example last week (which, being Madam Sieve-for-Brains, I promptly forgot): I was driving in to pick up the Munchkin at school, and I got a little nudge to just turn off the car radio and drive in the quiet. Suddenly, I started talking:

God, I really don't know how to do this. I mean, really, I am totally clueless here! I feel so out of control, I don't know what to do next, and I know I'm failing You. Sometimes I don't know why You bother with me; I'm a terrible Christian, and I don't love You as I should, but I don't know how! I'm feeling frustrated because I can never get it right, and absolutely helpless to move one way or another, and I just feel so STUCK! You have got to fix this, God, 'cause I don't know how and it's driving me completely out of my mind with irritation and disgust for myself!!! AAAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

And just as I wound down, a little tendril of peace wiggled into my heart. Just a little piece, and it seemed to say, "It's OK. I've got you."

That's all.

But when I recalled the event last night, I realized... that's enough. That was all I needed to remind me of the God of the WHOLE UNIVERSE, who really and truly loves little ol' me... and just wants me to spend time with Him.

Even if it is in the car on the way to school. The glory of God, wrapped up in the mundane routine of life.

You know... God... is really - really! - COOL!

Out of Islam and into the grace of God

My blog-brother Jim Bowden linked this video of Dr. Ergun Caner, who is the Dean at Liberty Baptist University and a former muslim. It's going to take you about thirty minutes to watch, but it is FANTASTIC!

After I'd seen that video, I poked around a little more and discovered that Dr. Caner has a brother who has also converted to Christianity. They appear together in this video:

What courage and conviction - and what grace! As "apostates," they are marked for death, yet they stand up and proclaim the truth of the Fatherhood and love of God, and the glory of Christ their Savior...

Thanks, Jim... Wonderful and encouraging finds!

Shaun's right: this is a good ad!

No, I don't plan on voting for Huckabee, but he does get it right - totally right! - in this ad:

God bless, Mr. Huckabee. Reminders like this, stripped of politics and self-promotion, are what we all need!

(Purrs to my blog-brother, Shaun Kenney)

A bright, brief candle...

... which was cherished and loved.

What a brave and godly couple! Given terrible news, they chose life anyway, and could therefore say "Until we meet again" with faith and confidence, and without regret.

"The doctor said that the majority of women with the diagnosis like this would terminate the pregnancy," said Rob. "And as he started to say that Gina said, 'No.' She just stopped him."

Gina says that in her heart she was certain of one thing. She was already a mom. She says God had given her a child and she already felt a deep connection with her son.

It was in that moment she made a sacrifice only a mother could make.

"I decided to hold tightly to my faith and push through my fear," said Gina. "I decided to put myself aside and know that this baby has a life right now and I am meant to be his mother right now." [...]

They had six hours with their son.

"I found some comfort in the fact that he went from safe in my womb to God's arms," said Gina.

The Harrises say their faith has given them the strength and perspective they have needed to get through this time.

"We have a choice. We can be bitter or we can choose to appreciate what were given," Gina said. "To actually carry a baby and be a mother is the greatest gift that anyone could have. I am confident that one day we will see David again and we'll get to know our son in heaven."

David Paul Harris taught his parents that love isn't measured in time.

"I held him and he was born and he lived and he had an impact on people," said Gina. "Most of all he had an impact on me. His life was so short but his life had great meaning." 

Yes. Exactly.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a beautiful example of faith and strength and unselfishness! Sadly, it is all too uncommon in our culture; it is far more "convenient" for people to abort a child instead of stepping up to the plate and being Mom and Dad.

May God bless the Harris' and hold them in His loving hands. May He strengthen their faith and cause their witness for Him to shine through their lives. And, at the right time, may He bring them another child to raise in His name.

And, when it is time for them to go Home as well, I know that the reunion with young David will be joyous!

(Kitti purrs to the Mighty Malkin)

UPDATE: Please also go over to Wizbang!, where contributor Bill Jempty tells his own moving and faith-filled story.

That He may have the preeminence

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:15-18, NKJV)

Two thousand years ago, a Baby was born in a humble stable. On the surface, it really wasn't anything special - after all, babies are born every day, and even in these modern times many are born into poverty.

This Baby, however, was special.

This Child was the very image, the εικων (Greek, "eikon," where we get our word "icon") of God. This Child was, in fact, God Himself coming down to His people.

Note that God did not do this by coming as a King. Although He could certainly claim that stature by right, He did not do so: He came down as a little child from and obscure family that lived in a poor town. His earthy father was only a simple carpenter, not a Pharisee or a rabbi. His mother was only a young Jewish girl whose name would never have been known but for the Child she bore.

Thus God the Son, the Heir of all Creation, by whom and for whom all things were created, the very God whose word and power holds everything together... laid aside His glory, shrugged off His power, and forsook His throne so that He might live among us. He placed His tabernacle among us, and God Himself became Man.

He lived as one of us, from having His diaper changed and depending upon His parents to feed Him through all the way to taking the punishment we had earned and winning our redemption.

Why did He do this? What could possibly be worth all the pain and agony and sorrow He experienced?

He loved us. He loved us with a perfect love, a love He had for us before He even created us. He knew us from before the foundation of the earth, knew the choices and the sins that would make up our lives, and He loved us.

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8, NKJV)

He humbled Himself and came down, so that He might raise us up and exalt us together with Himself.

Love, patience, humility, kindness, faithfulness, servanthood - displayed by the God of all that is... on our behalf.

Thus, in all things, He has the preeminence: it is His by right of creation, but it is also His because of the life He lived here and the victory over death He won.

So, as we celebrate Christmas and enjoy our families and friends, as we shop for gifts and food, as we go to parties and listen to the holiday music, let us never forget the Baby - that unique Child, who was God in the flesh - and what He has done for us.

Don't forget that the Carnival of Christmas will be held here at CatHouse Chat on December 24th; for full details please go here. And, make sure you bookmark the Christmas Alliance 2007 page for excellent holiday goodness. Links and trackbacks to both pages are welcome and encouraged!

Christmas is coming!

Which means that the CatHouse will soon be dressed in Christmas attire, and will be settling in to celebrate this blessed season.

The Random Yak has already set up the Christmas Alliance 2007 page, so make sure you link and trackback (http://www.randomyak.com/wp-trackback.php?p=2306) all your Christmas posts (please remember, though, the spirit of the Season: keep it appropriate!). Adam has told me that he wants to keep the Christmas Carnival going, but would prefer to pass the hosting baton. I have replied to him and offered to host the Carnival here this year and will let you-all know what he says.

Now, two years ago, I made the effort of posting once a day from December 1st through the 26th, and I'm thinking of doing it again this year. So please make sure you've got CatHouse Chat bookmarked or on your RSS reader, and be prepared for some no-hold-barred, unabashed and unapologetic Christ-centered Christmas blogging!

Because, after all...

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

Time to petition Heaven on behalf of one of our heroes!

I read about this the other day, and am ashamed to admit that I let it slip off my radar screen. Fortunately, my dear friend, Raven, reminded me this morning, so I can offer prayers on behalf of this hero in need:

Luis Sinco, a staff reporter for the LA Times, took this picture back in November, 2004, when the Marines entered Fallujah. The "Marlboro Marine" became an icon of the dogged determination of our brave men and women to win against the terrorists in Iraq.

But now, the "Marlboro Marine, " Blake Miller, needs our prayers:

The next day, I found Miller in a back bedroom at his uncle's house. He told me that he had come close to committing suicide the night before. He had thought about driving his motorcycle off the edge of a mountain road.

He showed me the morning newspaper. His divorce was the lead story.

I felt torn. I didn't want to get involved. I desperately wanted to close the book on Iraq. But if I hadn't taken Miller's picture, this very personal drama wouldn't be front-page news. I felt responsible.

Sometimes, when things get hard to witness, I use my camera as a shield. It creates a space for me to work -- and distance to keep my eyes open and my feelings in check. But Miller had no use for a photojournalist. He needed a helping hand.

I flashed back to the chaos of combat in Fallouja. In the rattle and thunder, brick walls separated me from the world coming to an end. In the tight spaces, we were scared mindless. Everybody dragged deeply on cigarettes.

Above the din, I heard what everybody was thinking: This is the end.

I've never felt so completely alone.

I snapped back to the present, and before I knew it, the words spilled out.

"I have to ask you something, Blake," I said. "If I'd gone down in Fallouja, would you have carried me out?"

"Damn straight," he said, without hesitation.

"OK then," I said. "I think you're wounded pretty badly. I want to help you."

He looked at me for a moment. "All right," he said.

Part two of Mr. Sinco's story is here:

Miller now sees Jessica a couple of times a month. They have not completed their divorce but remain separated.

"I see him on his good days," Jessica said, "and everything is wonderful. We actually have conversations." But then weeks pass without sight of him.

"He has to get stable," she said. "If he was better, we'd be together all the time."
Miller lives in a refurbished trailer behind his father's house. Two televisions provide constant background chatter. The refrigerator is bare. A hound named Mudbone spends most days tied in the yard.

Miller is estranged from his mother. He talks with his father, Jimmy Miller, 43, about everything except Iraq.

...

It took a while to get to know Miller. But I've come to appreciate his intelligence, generosity and dignity. He is a talented musician and skilled mechanic. I try to relate to him as a brother, even though I'm older than his father.

He has helped me sort through the craziness of Fallouja. I can't stop the war, but Miller has given me a chance to make a difference -- by helping him. And maybe myself.

Often, I wonder if I've done enough. Can I let go now? Can I ever let go?

The experts tell me I may be in it for the long haul.

Armstrong says Miller is "playing out his symptoms on cue."

"He's just keeping his head above water," he said. "He can't afford any downtime because it allows him to think."

Harkness holds out hope that Miller will eventually seek intensive therapy of the kind she offered.

"He won't come in for help because a part of him is very macho," she said. "He really comes across as the Marlboro Man. My fear is that at some point, it's all going to come crashing down."

The horrors of war always affect our military to a greater or lesser degree. Some handle it "better" than others, and some break under the load. Grim, over at Blackfive, wrote an incredibly moving and insightful post the other week which may give civilians an insight as to what can go on inside our veterans; I highly recommend reading it.

I, however, have no experience in combat and no direct military training, so I cannot offer this sort of practical empathy. And so, I will do what all of us can, and turn to the God who loves us, who loves Blake Miller, and ask Him to come down and lay His healing hands on this young man, this hero, who is going through so much pain:

Dear Father in Heaven, You are truly glorious and awesome in Your power and grace. There is none like You in all the universe, and nothing can prevent You from doing all Your good will. Lord, You are our Provider and our Healer, our Savior and our Friend. You are the Mighty Warrior, the Lord of Hosts, stronger than all our tiny might, and willing to offer Your power to save us and transform us.

Father - O, Father! - one of our heroes is in pain, and in danger of falling into the inescapable mire of despair and torment. The sights he has seen, the things he has had to do on behalf of freedom, have wounded his spirit and closed his eyes to the joy and healing available to him. Father, we ask You to send Your Spirit upon Blake Miller, to heal him and to convince him of Your love and care for him. We ask that You send men and women to surround Blake with tangible evidence of Your love: hands to help, arms to hold, ears to listen, mouths to encourage, feet to serve, shoulders to support, hearts to love, and spirits to pray.

This man is my brother in You, Lord, and my brother is in pain. I know he knows Your Word, and I know that Your Word will never be ineffective. On behalf of my brother, I lay claim to Your promises:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Father, You have promised comfort. In his afflictions, I pray that You draw Blake closer to You. I pray that he learns how faithful and loving You are to Your children. I pray that he receives strength from You, that he rests in You and renews his spirit. Father, You have promised that his suffering is not in vain: You have a plan and a purpose in it. Please help him hold Your hand as he walks this rocky trail. Give him an assurance of the light at the end of the tunnel and a confidence that

... all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Father, you have promised that all things will work together for good for Your children. We know that not all things are good, but we know that You can give us beauty for ashes, and that You can turn mourning into joy. We know that You love us and are the Giver of all good things, that You want us to have abundant life so that we may be imitators and disciples of Your Son.

I pray that You will give Blake Your strength to lift up his eyes and place them on You, for You are our help and our shield, our Rock and Fortress who protects us in the storm. I pray that Blake puts his trust and confidence in You to bring him through this Valley of the Shadow of Death, knowing that You are carrying him in Your loving hands. Help him, I pray, to remember that You have begun Your work in him, and that You will bring it to completion. There is no one and nothing that can wrest Blake from You, Father, and You rejoice over him with singing, because he is Yours.

Father, protect and uphold Blake's family. I ask that You bring about reconciliation where needed, that You use this pain to draw them together and knit them into a close and loving relationship. I pray that You protect Jessica, that You encourage her to have faith in You and to pray for and love her husband. I pray that You turn Blake's heart towards her, that they be reunited as husband and wife and grow stronger together. I pray that they may become true lovers and helpmeets, partners who love and trust and support each other throughout their lives.

Father, I can only end with what many consider the "Warriors' Psalm," Psalm 91, asking that You be Blake's Deliverer, his Refuge and Dwelling Place. Rise up, O Lord, and show Yourself in Your power and glory and love for my brother, Blake:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
         My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
        And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
         And under His wings you shall take refuge;
         His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
        Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
       Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
         And ten thousand at your right hand;
         But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
         And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
        Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
         Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
        To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
         Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
         The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
         I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
         I will be with him in trouble;
         I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
         And show him My salvation.”

Lord God Almighty, Provider, Protector, our Banner and our Shield, I ask these things in Your power and love and in the Name that is above every name, Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Hallelujah! Properly on-line again!

Well, I finally seem to have conquered the oddities of that nasty BSOD ("Blue Screen of Death") I tangled with on Saturday morning... It took some re-booting, I had to remove and then reinstall several programs, and I tore a little hair out, but - thanks MAINLY to my Beloved Husband - I appear to be up and running properly.

It was rather frustrating - I had access to the Internet, and everything Firefox-related seemed to work fine, but once I started trying to record and edit my Sacred Hideaway show, I had LOTS of issues with the programs I use (iTunes, Audacity, mp4 converter). At first, I thought it was the latest iTunes, but that was running smoothly when I got the BSOD again...

I had just clicked my "Live Writer" icon - so, I stripped that off, rebooted again and things are looking all right.

For now.

I really like Live Writer, so I *am* going to be daring and download it again - but only after I've sent tomorrow's show off to Radio CIA via YouSendIt!

At any rate, it was irritating. After all, I had this GORGEOUS sunrise yesterday morning that I really wanted to share with you! Well, here it is now - a day late, plus several hours - and I hope it reminds you (as it did me) of how wonderful God must be, to bless us with such quiet, glorious beauty!

General Peter Pace's moral compass

Thanks to Kim Priestap over at Wizbang for linking to this article over at Threats Watch. Steve Schippert outlines the depth of character and integrity which permeate General Pace's life and contrasts them with the craven lust for power and popularity which epitomizes Congress:

Yet a majority in Congress telegraphed their intent to oppose [Gen. Pace's] renomination as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and create a national spectacle for the self-serving political purposes of staging public opposition to the President of the United States. And as displayed by many in that elected body, leadership by example is a sword that cuts both ways. The Congressional ‘Peter’ Principle was on clear display.

And with that came the end of the exemplary service of a good man and outstanding Marine. He now must - and will - find another avenue to serve and honor those fallen Marines whom he led.

Yet there is nary a Congressional leader who does not famously proclaim “I support the troops.” But the often hollow nature of these words has the effect of reducing such phases to little more than bumper sticker slogans. For they are immediately trumpeted following a sitting Senator who compares those in the United States Military as running abusive and torturous “gulags” and their actions no different from the genocidal “Pol Pot.”
“I support the troops” immediately trailed a Congressman’s hasty and false accusations of Marines as murderers based on the unscrupulous and uncorroborated accounts of those who supported the enemy on the battlefield. “Supporting the troops” remains the official position of a sitting Senator who falsely testified before the Congress he now serves within that his fellow servicemen in Vietnam had “cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan.”

Our Congress, Republicans and DemoRATS alike, could use new direction, and I believe that they should be guided by General Pace's moral compass:

Chaminade students also noted that the general learned a life-changing lesson from Farinaro’s death in July of 1968 when a sniper’s bullet struck him down. Pace learned about the importance of maintaining a “moral compass,” several students noted, especially when making decisions at emotional moments.

“You could lose yourself in the heat of a situation,” the general explained, said Dennis Grabowski. The senior is a parishioner of St. Patrick’s, Glen Cove, and Tarmac co-editorial editor. Pace explained that his initial response to Farinaro’s death was to order an air strike on the village where the sniper was shooting from, but a look on his sergeant’s face gave him pause. Instead, Pace ordered a ground sweep of the village and “found it full of women and children.”

“The general said that had he ordered the air strike, he would have felt guilty the rest of his life,” Finn noted.

“You are going to come up on situations in life that are going to test you, he told us,” said Craig Hauser, a senior from St. Aidan’s Church, Williston Park. “In those situations, he told us, you go with your moral compass,” weighing the effects on everyone involved.

“He also said in making a decision to ask God for the wisdom to do the right thing and the strength to do it,” said Sal Garofalo, a senior, Tarmac co-editor in chief, and a parishioner of St. Aidan’s Church, Williston Park. “And after you make the decision, thank God for the help.”

General Pace's moral compass has proven itself to be honorable and true, and Virginia's populace as a whole ought to be pleading with this man to shoulder another duty for his country and run for Senator!

General Peter Pace:

• honor
• integrity
• humility
• faithfulness
• persistence
• determination

A Marine. A man. A leader!

Technorati Tags: Peter Pace, Senator, moral compass, honor, integrity, Marine, General Pace

ONE!!!

Well, after all the excitement of getting my first show ready for Radio CIA, and then the excitement of the auction of Harry Reid's attempt to squelch the First Amendment rights of a private citizen, and then an attempt to upgrade my 60G hard drive with a new 120G drive (my hubby will figure it out, don't worry!) I think it's time to get back to studying Ephesians, don't you? If you like, you can read what I've already written - here, here, here, here, here, and here - in order.

So, let's move on to Ephesians 4, verses 1-6:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The mystery of God's family

For me, this is a hard section in Ephesians. Chapter three starts out with Paul saying "For this reason..." (referring back to chapter two and his discussion of how God has united believing Jews and believing Gentiles into one family) - and then breaking his thought and recapitulating and restating some points he made previously.

So, I think I'm just going to go along piecemeal and see what comes up - and you'll get an idea of what often happens to me when I'm really trying to read the Bible for meaning, LOL. However, sometimes this is how life goes - it's not always neat and direct, is it?

Transformed from aliens and strangers to members of God's house

The depths of God's grace and mercy continue to astound me as I work through Ephesians. Last time, we looked a little bit at God's sovereign choice in our salvation, and how He took out of death and brought us into new life. This time, as we look at Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul writes about the positional transformation which takes place when God redeems us.

Oh! And one fairly major "housekeeping" note: please remember that I am not seminary trained. These posts are my personal meditations in the Word, and thoughts the Spirit has stirred up, which I hope will be edifying for others. Of course, being seminary trained is no guarantee of infallibility (as if!), but I do not want to present myself as something I'm not.

You should also remember that, where the Bible and I disagree... *I* am the one who is wrong! God's word, in the original documents, is inerrant and infallible: me, I am just a sinner saved by grace, doing my poor best to remain as true to the Word as I can. So, I would be most thankful if, should you find a place where I am in error, you would bring it to my attention with Scriptural support and a kind attitude, so that I may correct myself and better conform to the image of Christ.

Now, onward to Ephesians 2:

God, rich in mercy...

Hello, again, everyone! Thanks so much for your support on Wednesday night for my debut on Radio CIA. I think that show about the discipline of God was heard by more people than I've ever had pay attention (outside of substituting for my Sunday School teacher on a couple of occasions, LOL)! I pray that it was helpful, and that God used me to speak His grace and love into your heart.

Today's readings from the MacArthur Daily Bible's are Jeremiah 9 and 10, Psalm 118:5-9 (Oh, Psalm 199 - one of the longest chapters in the Bible - is coming up!), Proverbs 27:7, and Colossians 3. Of note in Colossians three are verses 12-17:

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." And so here I am, trying yet again to be faithful in my daily Bible reading! With God's help, I'll persevere and really train myself to spend time with God first every day.

On that note, I decided to keep up with my study in Ephesians, so I'm going to move to chapter 2 today, and concentrate on verses 1 through 10. Ephesians is an incredible, wonderful book - well, ALL the books of the Bible are, certainly - and it's really speaking to me at the moment. It rather makes me wonder where God is going to take me with this...? Of course, He's already prodded me in one particular area, and - so long as I depend on Him for the power - I pray that this time, we can kick the issue out of my life!

At any rate, on to Ephesians 2:1-10 :

An appearance of wisdom...

I actually managed to get up with the alarm this morning, and go straight to my daily Bible reading! Hooray!

The MacArthur Daily Bible's selections for today are: Jeremiah 7 and 8, Psalm 118:1-4, Proverbs 27:5 and 6, and Colossians 2. This selection from Colossians, verses 16-23, caught my eye this morning:

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,  which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Don't let yourself get caught up in the rituals, the legalistic rules imposed by man. God wants your heart! He wants you to spend time with Him, learning His ways, so that your life may be transformed from within into a holy testimony of praise.

Yes, rules are important, and method is important - but Christians need to make certain that it is God's rules and methods that we obey. Thus I will remind myself and my brothers and sisters in Christ, that is why it is critically important for us to spend time in His Word, prayerfully and soberly.

For how else may we sing His praise and our lives be a sweet aroma of righteousness to Him?

Technorati Tags: Bible study, discipleship, worship

Debuting tonight on Radio CIA! Kat returns to the "airwaves"

"Sacred Hideaway," with your host - Kat of CatHouse Chat (that's me!)! Brother Mark, who hosts several spots on Radio CIA, graciously invited me to join the crew a couple days ago, and with "fear and trembling," I accepted.

Today, he and I got together by phone to get the ball rolling, outlining format and style, along with some basic organizing. I sent him a couple shows I'd recorded when netcasting at Wide Awakes Radio, and... He edited them a little bit and will be playing one tonight!

So, please make sure you tune in to Radio CIA tonight for the Wednesday Wave, hosted by Brother Mark. He's on from 7pm to midnight, ET (oops - that's CENTRAL TIME), and I believe he'll be playing the spot sometime around 8.

Future programs will be Bible study-meditations with Christian music, and last about an hour. I'm going to go back through my archives and record some of my biblical meditations for upcoming shows. I still need to figure out the music part (mp4 can be such a pain...) but Radio CIA is fully licensed, so - once I figure it out - I can play anything I want!

Finally, I covet your prayers, because this is a BIG step for me. I am going to need humility and dedication, and I must obey God's guidance with an obedient heart. So, your prayer coverage is needed!

And, always always always - soli Deo gloria! To God alone be the glory!

Technorati Tags: Radio CIA, sacred hideaway, Bible study, radio

That we may understand the glory and riches of Christ

Last week I posted about the first three paragraphs in Ephesians 1, and discussed them somewhat. Today, I'd like to take a look at verses 15 through 21, and see what God has to say to us in them. 

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;

God wants us to have understanding and knowledge of Him - He wants us to know Him. The more we read and study the Bible, the more we get closer to understanding just who He is, and the wonderful purity of His character. He is completely holy, without fault or blemish, and He calls us to this holy standard.

Now certainly, this side of glory we are still influenced by our sinful natures and fall far short of His standard. Don't forget, that is why Christ came to live and die for us: we couldn't do it, so He did it for us. And even in eternity there will always be more and more to know about God, for He is infinite, as we are not.

But God does not want us to be ignorant and blind in our faith. He has given so much evidence in the world - in science, in nature, in human nature, in beauty, etc. - of who He is and that He is, but we often ignore or dismiss it. One thing He has been doing for me this past year is teaching me to have an "attitude of gratitude." I find that I am looking for things for which to return thanks, and I think this is helping me to see His hand in every possible aspect of my life.

Nevertheless, without true knowledge of Him, any effort we make in an attempt to please Him will go astray. Thus, it is critical that all Christians be diligent in prayerful study of His Word, expecting to learn more about how our Savior wants us to live, and coming to a deeper understanding of His wonderful love and the riches of His grace.

that you may know what is the hope of His calling,

God wants us to know the incredible hope found in His sovereign call. In my earlier post, I referred to God choosing us from before the foundations of the earth, and the guarantee of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the heart of every Christian. Put together with this phrase from Ephesians, it reminded me of another wonderful verse, this time from Colossians:

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Inside each Christian is the Holy Spirit, sealing us for the Day when we meet the Lord. He is the guarantee, the down-payment, from God that His calling will be effectual and will usher us in to glory. And in that Day, all our sins and all our imperfections will finally be completely removed from us. Although Christians have been saved from the power and the penalty (eternal penalty, that is - not the earthly consequences) of sin, we have yet to be saved from the very presence of sin.

On that Day, when we finally see Him face to face, this glorious hope of eternity with Him and salvation from even the very presence of sin will be realized. And how wonderful that will be! How often I have wished, with many Christians before me, that there was a magical button: "Press here for instant sanctification!" On that Day, I will finally - FINALLY - be able to get it right, 100% of the time with a proper attitude and with an undivided heart!

So, God wants us to know not only the hope of God's calling, but also

what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,

As Christians, we have an inheritance in God's kingdom.

Now, consider that, for a moment. This kingdom is owned and ruled by God Most High, the Creator of all the Universe. The Bible says that

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

God owns EVERYTHING! And part of what he owns, part of His inheritance, is His saints - each member of the true Church, the Bride of Christ. Do you begin to understand what that means? God, who owns everything, has called us the "glory of His inheritance." And if that isn't enough for you, He adds that word, "riches."

When God calls us into His family, when He removes us from the kingdom of darkness and sin and places us into His Kingdom, He goes all the way. We are fully adopted and counted as evidence of His glory! Do you see the phrase "exceeding greatness of His power"? God is omnipotent. There is nothing He cannot accomplish according to His will... And He focuses that power towards US! All of that incredible power is working in us to make us like His Son, so that we shine with His glory and grace. The more we step away from our selfish and sinful nature and obey His will in our lives, the more we work with Him, the more we succeed in revealing the very glory of God here on earth.

The marvelous thing is that He has chosen to use these vessels of clay and mud to be His earthly temples, to dwell in as He once dwelt in Solomon's Temple. He has chosen to use us to be lights in the darkness, to be that lighthouse which shows ships tossed by the raging sea where there is danger and where there is safe harbor. We are called to reflect His glory, to let it shine through our lives, so His holiness and purity and love are evident to the world.

according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Not only does God work in us with exceeding greatness of power, but He also works in us according to the MIGHTY power which was used to raise Christ from the dead. Now, again, consider that. When something - or someone - is dead... they're dead. The only way life can come again is for the shell to be returned to the soil and reprocessed to provide nourishment for the next cycle. But Jesus didn't "reincarnate" like that - His actual, physical body was resurrected. Not "resuscitated" - for there was no more decay, aging or death in His new body. But it was His body; it wasn't "recycled."

What kind of power must be required for that? Death hasn't been transformed, defeated, or avoided - it has been transcended. This sort of power is... incredible! To make the power of death so inconsequential that it cannot even touch the resurrected body take POWER, and a power of the kind we just cannot begin to grasp, because it is so gigantic.

God used His power not only to raise Christ from the dead, but this same power has also placed Christ at God's right hand, "far ABOVE all principality and power and might and dominion." If you really think about this, though, it's really not so surprising. Jesus is the Christ - God-the-Son - and therefore has all of the attributes of God and all His power. Yet this level of power is pictured as being supreme, superior to anything which might even think of usurping it.

This is the power which is working in the children of God: the infinite power which sustains the universe! And because we are in Christ, because we are covered by His blood, because we have been placed in Him - we are partakers of that infinite, sovereign, unstoppable Power.

Christian (and I speak to myself, before I address you), why haven't you submitted yourself to this? Why haven't you abandoned yourself to the God who created you, who loves you, and will work His holy will in your life?! Look at the incredible future which is waiting for you? This gracious blessing, this indescribably awesome outcome is yours - why worry about the temporary slings and arrows of the world?

All I can do is remind you of the last verses of one of the most inspiring passages of the Bible:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written:

“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded 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, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Praise be to the God and father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Praise to Him who has lifted us out of the miry pit, and set us upon the firm foundation of his love and grace. Praise the Name above all names, and - O Lord God! - come soon!

Maranatha!

Technorati Tags: Bible study, biblical teaching, doctrine, Jesus, salvation, Gods power, grace, blessing

What is it with me and the "catching up on my Bible reading again"?!

Ah, well, nevertheless, I did do some catching up yesterday, and realized that the MacArthur Daily Bible started selections from Ephesians on Sunday. We'll have one more day - tomorrow - reading Ephesians, and then go on to start Philippians on Saturday.

But reading Ephesians 1 and 2 yesterday was just so uplifting to me that I thought I'd share some thoughts with you about the wonderful, incredible grace of God and His infinite and perfect love for His children... (and as I'm writing down there below the fold, I realize that the first three paragraphs of Ephesians are so awesome, that I probably won't go past them today!)

For those who care, today's selected readings are Isaiah 59 and 60, Psalm 115:1-8, Proverbs 26:23, and Ephesians 5:17-33. Actually, Isaiah has had a LOT of great things the past several chapters, so I might also post about some excerpts from this great prophet of God's Word...

The grace of the Old Testament, and the condemnation of the New

Yes, it's been another long while, but I actually have been keeping up with my daily Bible reading from the MacArthur Daily Bible! Today's readings included some of my favorite passages from the Old and New Testaments, and the selection from Galatians really caught my attention.

So, the readings for today are Isaiah 34 and 44, Psalm 110, Proverbs 25:5-9, and Galatians 4.

Let's take a look at the selection from Isaiah first.

Hope Rides Alone: An American Hero answers the CodePink/Int'l Answer/MoveOn crowds...

The CatHouse bows in prayer and thanksgiving for a fallen hero, and the honorable example he lived.

But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.

I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.

People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society...and they are becoming our enemy.

Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war.

Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet...and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job. [all emphasis mine]

This is an excerpt from an essay written on February 1st of this year by SGT Eddie Jeffers, and I would urge you to read it, as well as two others, "Freedom Feels Good," and "Real Deal in Ramadi."

On Thursday, September 20, 2007, SGT Jeffers laid down his life for the ideals and convictions he cherished. Thank God for his Christian convictions: because of them, SGT Jeffers was ushered into the presence of his Lord and Savior by a host of angels. And I know that as he knelt at the foot of the Throne, he was blessed when God his Savior reached down, lifted him up and said,

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things, and I will give you charge over many. Enter into the joy of your Lord!"

SGT Jeffers' father wrote,

It is with great personal sadness but joy in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I announce the death of my son Eddie Jeffers. Eddie was killed around 7 am Iraqi time from an accidental vehicle roll-over. Although our personal loss is traumatic, we know he is in a better place. All of you have been so wonderful to my son and my family and he was so blessed and humbled by your love for him. He told me this past summer after the wonderful gift you gave his wife and him that he didn't understand why people were so generous and kind to him. You see to Eddie, he was just doing his job and what he believed was his life mission from God.

I've said this often; Eddie was my hero. My dear brother in Christ Rod Martin told me that Eddie died a hero for not just the soldier he was but the person. Eddie, through his writing, touched so many people's lives, yours and you so lovingly touched ours back.
We thank you in advance for your condolences and prayers. Please pray especially for Eddie's wife Stephanie; as you can imagine she is devastated. Our prayer is that Eddie's death will exalt Christ as did his life.

In lieu of any flowers we are asking all donations be given to the Fisher House in memory of Eddie; he loved that charity.

Will you join me in honoring an American hero, who followed his Savior in laying down his life for his friends? Please donate as much as you can to Fisher House, which "...donates 'comfort homes,' built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury."

And will you also read his essays, and commit to cherishing and nurturing this great country that he loved so much?

Let's honor him - and his fallen brethren - by bringing our troops home... VICTORIOUSLY!

(Crossposted to the Wide Awakes and the Cotillion)

Technorati Tags: SGT Eddie Jeffers, in memory, killed in action, essay, patriot

Rich Mullins: Ten years gone

I remember that Rich Mullins was one of the first Christian musicians I discovered when God called me back to get serious with Him. Rich's lyrics and simple, pure music appealed to me, and the thoughts and issues he sang about resonated deeply in my soul.

And now it's been ten years since that car accident in Illinois. It's been ten years since God called him Home. It's been ten years of missing his earnest and honest pursuit of his Lord and Savior and the way he shared that with us.

I am very much looking forward to meeting him in heaven one day, to say thank you for helping me love my God and Savior a little better.

"Sometimes By Step" is one of my favorites:

Sometimes the night was beautiful
Sometimes the sky was so far away
Sometimes it seemed to stoop so close
You could touch it but your heart would break
Sometimes the morning came too soon
Sometimes the day could be so hot
There was so much work left to do
But so much You'd already done

CHORUS:
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

Sometimes I think of Abraham
How one star he saw had been lit for me
He was a stranger in this land
And I am that, no less than he
And on this road to righteousness
Sometimes the climb can be so steep
I may falter in my steps
But never beyond Your reach

CHORUS

And I will follow You all of my days
And I will follow You all of my days
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days
And I will follow You all of my days
(Sometimes the night was beautiful)
And I will follow You all of my days

We still miss you, Rich. See you on the other side of Glory!

Technorati Tags: Rich Mullins, christian music, Sometimes by Step, memorial

I finally got around to my daily reading!

And, boy, I'm glad I did! Today's selections in the MacArthur Daily Bible are Ecclesiastes 3, Psalm 102:12-17, Proverbs 24:3-4, and 1 Corinthians 8.

Ecclesiastes 3 is the famous "To everything there is a season" passage - but that's only the first section of the chapter. If you look down to verse 14, it says:

I know that whatever God does,
      It shall be forever.
      Nothing can be added to it,
      And nothing taken from it.
      God does it, that men should fear before Him.

What God does is immutable - God accomplishes it with His infinite power, and He establishes it forever by that same power. Nothing and no one can resist what God chooses to do, and when men see the work of His mighty hand, they need to remember the awesome God who holds them in His palm.

You should read "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God," preached by one of America's most godly and influential preachers. Jonathan Edwards preached this sermon in 1741, taking his text from Deuteronomy 32:35 - "Their foot shall slip in due time." He was warning his congregation that ungodliness and rebellion against their Creator left them dangling by the thinnest thread over the pit of Hell, protected only by God's mercy and patience.

Do you know Romans 2:4? "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" If God's patience runs out - and it is not limitless - the eternal destruction in the Pit waited for them as certainly as night follows day.  

Therefore, displays of God's power are meant to draw us to Him in holy fear and awe, so that we throw ourselves upon His grace and are brought into His family. Remember, God owes us nothing! We are the ones in rebellion against Him, and He would be completely fair to consign all of us to eternal damnation. But the glorious salvation He offers from His own just wrath should cause us to love Him and follow Him all the days of our lives.

One thing many people do not realize is that when the Bible calls someone a fool, it is not talking about intelligence as much as it is focusing on wisdom. It is a moral judgement when we read "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"

The second part of Romans 1 is a diatribe about the foolishness of man:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,  because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

If you wilfully choose to go against Him, God will let you. And then, God will let you deal with the consequences. Wouldn't it be better to turn to Him and grasp hold of His outstretched hand? Wouldn't it be better for us to stop being fools, and learn to have a holy fear of God?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The promise of God to those who turn from foolishness to wisdom is laid out in today's reading from Proverbs:

Through wisdom a house is built,
      And by understanding it is established;
By knowledge the rooms are filled
      With all precious and pleasant riches.

I want to build and establish my house. And I cannot do it apart from Him. Therefore, I will let His power do its work and submit to Him in holy fear, and let God do a work which will last forever, unchanging.

Technorati Tags: Bible, forever, salvation, sin

Prayers URGENTLY requested!

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a friend who is going through a terribly difficult time right now, and really needs your prayers. I cannot tell you more about the situation due to privacy issues, but God knows who this person is, and the prayers you lift up to the Throne on my friend's behalf will be much appreciated!

Father in Heaven, You know my friend inside and out. You know the trial that has come into my friend's life. You, Father, are Lord of all the Universe and there is nothing too difficult for You. You know everything, You know the hearts and minds of everyone.

I ask on behalf of my friend that You would smooth the way and make plain Your truth. I ask that You would guide this affair in a way that will honor You and glorify Your name. May minds be cleared of falsehood, and may hearts turn to You in repentance. May all wrongful actions be brought to light, and may Your perfect justice triumph.

I pray for each and every person involved in this situation, in each walk of life and profession. I pray that You would lead them to do Your good and loving will, that they would act in integrity and honesty. I pray that each person would work actively to right the wrongs and promote truth and safety.

Give my friend Your strength, and give the support group Your wisdom. Let us gather around our friend to offer encouragement and love. Help us to be Your visible angels, just as You have set Your holy angels around our friend.

Father, I am asking for one of Your "everyday miracles," and beg You to please protect and guide my friend. I pray that You would help my friend trust you and rest in You. I pray my friend will have confidence in You and that my friend will have an inner assurance that Your perfect will will be done and that You will bring the evil to naught.

In Your Son's precious Name, and for Your honor and glory, I ask this. Amen.

Changing my mind

Joe Carter, over at the Evangelical Outpost, has a guaranteed way to change your mind. As he says, it's very, very simple - and most people will dismiss it. I can tell you, however, that it lives up to its promise - and I can vouch for that because even though I'm following the advice imperfectly, it's working for me!

For the one or two people who will find this useful, the four steps that will transform your worldview are:

1. Choose a book of the Bible.
2. Read it in its entirety.
3. Repeat #2 twenty times.
4. Repeat this process for all 66 books of the Bible.

Christians often talk about having a Biblical worldview yet most have only a rudimentary knowledge of the Bible. They attempt to build a framework without first gathering the lumber and cement needed to create a solid foundation. The benefits of following this process should therefore be obvious. By fully immersing yourself into the text you’ll come to truly know the text. You’ll deepen your knowledge of the Bible as a whole and be able to put each book into context.

See how simple it is? Still, my discipline is imperfect, although I'm working on it. As a matter of fact, I need to go read today's selections out of the MacArthur Daily Bible (Job 13 and 14, Psalm 94:12-19, Proverbs 22:26-27, and Romans 11). Hm, just skimming before I actually read it, this is what caught my eye:

Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD,
         And teach out of Your law,
That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,
         Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
For the LORD will not cast off His people,
         Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
But judgment will return to righteousness,
         And all the upright in heart will follow it.

And, of course, I adore the book of Romans, so it is always edifying to read what God has to say via Paul...

Anyway, read the whole thing, including the comments. As a matter of fact, one of the commenters makes this very interesting point:

[Atheists] often talk about the inconsistencies and errors in the Bible, but we mostly have a rudimentary knowledge of it. I'm sure your method will help me be a better skeptic! Thanks!

So, you see? Everyone can get something out of reading the Bible regularly!

Oh! I also, via the comments, stumbles on to another fascinating-looking blog, Wonders for Oyarsa, which is going right into my RSS feeds!

Technorati Tags: transformation, change, Bible study, Bible

Good morning, glory!

Right outside my kitchen door

Thankful

 How thankful are we, really? I admit that, although I try to cultivate an "attitude of gratitude," all too often I fail. I'll grumble or whine, moan and complain rather than remembering all the multitudes of blessings that surround me.

And so, I thought it would be good to post the lyrics for "Thankful" by Caedmon's Call:

You know I ran across an old box of letters
While I was bagging up some clothes for Goodwill
But you Know I had to laugh at the same old struggles
That plagued me then are plaguing me still

Oh, and aren't they just?! When will I learn the moral fortitude, the strength of integrity, to just walk away from areas I know are triggers for me?

I know the road is long from the ground to glory
But a boy can hope he's getting some place
But you see, I'm running from the very clothes I'm wearing
And dressed like this I'm fit for the chase

'Cause no, there is none righteous
Not one who understands
There is none who seek God
No not one, I said no not one

"No one. Not ONE." None who seeks after God. All our mouths are like open graves, and the poison of asps is in them.

So I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

'Cause we're all stillborn and dead in our transgressions
We're shackled up to the sin we hold so dear
So what part can I play in the work of redemption
I can't refuse, I cannot add a thing

And yet, there is One who does good, One who took all my sin and paid the price. And you know what He did then? He turned around and gave me all His perfection! All the infinite merit of His perfect and holy life, He gave to me! Just as He offered His redemption and His righteousness to me, so He offers it to all who will take Him at His Word.

'Cause I am just like Lazarus and I can hear your voice
I stand and rub my eyes and walk to You
Because I have no choice

I was dead in my sin. I was a rotten corpse, and could do nothing to save myself - nothing to move towards God. Even if I had been able to do something, I would not have wanted to: my sinful nature wanted to avoid and deny God at all costs.

But by God's sovereign grace, by His mercy and by His own plan, He reached down and called me out of the grave. Therefore I can sing and praise Him with this chorus:

I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own
I'm so thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

'Cause by grace I have been saved
Through faith that's not my own
It is a gift of God and not by works
Lest anyone should boast

It is His power that works in me. It is His love and kindness that allow this powerless and unworthy sinner to proclaim the mighty predominance of the Living God.

Thus says the LORD:
      “ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
      Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
      Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
      That he understands and knows Me,
      That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
      For in these I delight,” says the LORD.

Technorati Tags: redemption, grace, salvation, Caedmons Call, Bible, gratitude

Will You not revive us again?

Today's readings from the MacArthur Daily Bible are: 2 Chronicles 30 and 31, Psalm 85:1-7, Proverbs 21:9-11, and Acts 20:1-16.

How often the Psalms call out to my heart and put the right words into my mouth! I cannot tell you the many times God has led my eyes to these verses of praise and pain, adoration and vengeance, and given me words to soothe my soul and renew my love for Him.

Today, Psalm 85 gives me these words:

Restore us, O God of our salvation,
         And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
Will You be angry with us forever?
         Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
Will You not revive us again,
         That Your people may rejoice in You?

Only God can intervene in this country, to restore us to our godly heritage. Only He can send His Spirit into us and turn our hearts to Him. The earnest prayers of His children should rise up to His throne, pleading for revival - first in our own hearts, and then throughout the land.

Believe me, we need revival. As someone recently reminded me, if God does not judge America, then He will have to issue an apology to Sodom and Gomorrah - and to Tyre and Sidon, to Egypt and Babylon and Persia. All these lands have felt His hand in righteous judgement in the past, and America is heaping up wrath for herself. Our sensuality, our passion for death, our lawlessness, our hubris, our wilful dismissal of our Rightful Sovereign... We richly deserve any judgement He chooses to send.

Yet, so far, He has mercifully stayed His hand. He graciously awaits us with long-suffering patience, and opens His arms in love to all who take Him at His Word.

Perhaps - just perhaps - He is preparing the land for a revival? Sometimes you must be smeared with mud before you appreciate being clean.

If you read the selection in 2 Chronicles, linked above, you will read the story of King Hezekiah, who loved the Lord his God. Hezekiah tore down the idols and the alters to false gods, he restored the Temple, and he called the Remnant of Israel to celebrate the Passover as the Lord had commanded. Because of Hezekiah's devotion to the Lord, God did wondrous things in the land -

And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.

In that time, when the king devoted himself to God with his whole heart, God would bless him and all of Israel with him. Will we follow godly leaders? Will we follow our True Leader so we may walk the paths of righteousness and wear the laurels of honor, dignity, faithfulness, and love upon our brow? Will our example of devotion to the Living God cause His blessing to flood out into the land?

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Let us sow holiness, righteousness and love in our own lives, and then pray that our heavenly Father will sent His Spirit like fire upon this nation. Let us pray the He will be merciful and cause His face to shine upon us once again, so that we may rejoice in Him. Let us pray that He will again lift us up to shine throughout the world as a beacon of justice and honor and godly strength.

And so I ask Him,

Will You not revive us?

Will You not return to us?

Will You not restore us that we may again bring glory and honor to Your Name?

Please, Lord. For Your glory - make us live again!

Technorati Tags: Bible study, revival, Hezekiah, America, judgement

The God of "Begin All Over Again"

Yes, I have - yet again! - fallen behind on my daily Bible reading, as well as on my Resolution 2007 postings. I am very thankful that, with God, each day is a new day, and that I can always come to the foot of the Cross to confess my sins and ask for His help to do better.

This past weekend at the Bog Conference was particularly helpful, because I had lovely discussions with Jim Bowden of Deo Vindice, among others. I was reminded for the thousandth time of God's holy sneakiness: He always seems to put the right person in my path at the right time to put the right word in my ear right when I need to hear it.

And so, here I am again, ready to do my poor best at being faithful to the Living God, who sheds His grace and mercy over my life with rich abandon.

Thank You, Father, for Your enduring patience with Your wayward child. Please guard my heart and fit it for Your courts above. Keep me in Your hands, and soften my hard and stubborn spirit so that I may follow you with joy and devotion. Help me learn of You and Your ways; Your holiness, Your justice, Your discipline, and Your love, so that I may walk ever closer to You.

You are the one true God: holy, righteous, powerful, loving. You are the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, the Sovereign of all the universe. There is nothing beyond Your power, and Your wisdom surpasses all understanding. No one can thwart Your will, and Your provision sustains us all.

Thank You, Father. All good things do indeed come from You, and I praise You for You watchcare over me, sinner that I am.

All right. Jim reminded me that I can pick up on today's reading and go forward from now. After all, God's Word endures forever, so it will always be available when I get to the parts I've missed. So, I'm going to take the words of Paul and apply them:

one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Today's readings in the MacArthur Daily Bible are: 2 Chronicles 28 and 29, Psalm 84:8-12, Proverbs 21:6-8, and Acts 19:21-41. 

My eyes quickly stopped at Proverbs 21:8, which reads

The way of a guilty man is perverse;
      But as for the pure, his work is right.

Again, this is the right word at the right time: during the conference, I was reminded of the meaning of my given name (Kathryn), which is "pure." But how often is my way "pure," how often is my work "right"? Yes, I may be good enough for others to think I'm an okay person, but in God's eyes are my ways pleasing to Him?

All too often, I think He frowns in disapproval of my thoughts and actions.

I need to remember that my highest calling is to

Trust in the LORD with all [my] heart,
      And lean not on [my] own understanding;
In all [my] ways acknowledge Him,
      And He shall direct [my] paths.

Secondly, I noticed verses 10 and 11 in Psalm 84:

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
         I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
         Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
         The LORD will give grace and glory;
         No good thing will He withhold
         From those who walk uprightly.

There is a praise chorus, frequently sung in churches today, which goes

How lovely is
Your dwelling place
Oh Lord Almighty,
For my soul longs
And even faints
For You
Oh, here my heart
Is satisfied (is satisfied)
Within Your presence
I see beneath
The shadow of
Your wings

Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere

Indeed, I must remember that the rewards of Heaven and of obedience to my loving, gracious Father are far beyond even the best I could imagine. When I walk in obedience to Him, humbly submitting myself to His guiding hand, I can walk in confidence and security. My obligation is to obey and love Him; His obligation is to deal with the consequences and always be with me.

I can only find rest in Him, and He has promised that He will not keep any good thing from me when I walk according to the path He has laid out for me.

Notice that word "good." God will only give me good things - and frequently His definition of "good" doesn't quite match up with mine! If I think wealth would be "good," and He withholds it, is that bad? No, of course not! In His greater wisdom, He may know that wealth would make me arrogant, selfish, and insensitive to His call. Perhaps He might permit ill-health to come into my life. Would that be a bad thing? It wouldn't if it developed a sweet and kind nature in me and a confident reliance on Him.

Christians are called to give thanks to God for all things, not because what's happening in our lives is necessarily good (illness, death, pain, inconvenience, etc., aren't "good" things of themselves), but because of what God is going to do in us for His glory in the midst of those circumstances.

Do you remember Paul's experience with this?

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the chief end of man is to

glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Therefore I will join my voice to MercyMe's song, "Bring the Rain:"

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain

Technorati Tags: MercyMe, obedience, joy, confidence, God, Jesus, Bible

NO!!! I know I haven't been posting!

But I've been terribly busy helping out at the Munchkin's Horse Camp (taking photos, organizing, riding herd on kids, grooming, offering riding tips, getting water and ice, cleaning stalls...), and I'm too busy and exhausted to post.

Usually.

It's been tiring, but very rewarding. Although I'm not a "kid person," I can handle them in twos and threes - and we have some fantastic young riders of character and poise in our group of eighteen. There are some who are just starting who are too adorable for words, and some who have been riding for several years. Some I just want to bring home with me, and some I really just want to smack - until they get something right and give that brilliant smile... And my heart melts!

Tomorrow is my last day, since I'm driving to Hampton on Friday for the Blogs United conference. I would ask that you keep us all in prayer for safety (only one fall so far, and she bounced right back on the horse with no worries). Also for me, so that I may show the love of God to each child, whether their personality is acceptable to my temperament or not.

“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)

These kids are our future - every child is! - and I need to really work on being lovingly firm to each and every one.

Thank You, Lord, for the blessing of these young and enthusiastic lives. Help me be a kind and patient servant to them. Help me show them Your love, and be an example of gentle stewardship to the noble beasts we ride. Thank You so much for the Lady who owns this stable; she is a shining example of graciousness to children, kindness and love for animals, and responsibility with joy. She has a life of hard work, and she shoulders it well. I ask You blessing on her life, Father - give her Your strength, encourage her faith, and give her prosperity according to Your will.

Technorati Tags: horses, camp, riding, leadership, mentor, service

The Fourth of July (2007 Edition)

--- I posted this last year, and it was well received. And so I post it again in hope that it lifts up someone's spirit and reminds them of the foundation of this great country on its birthday. Here is the wonderful mix that my blog brother, Alton, made for me. He'd asked me to record this post, and then he added music. Listen or read - but enjoy either way!

I would also encourage you to go over to Rick Moan's site, where he is "liveblogging" the events which happened July 2, July 3, and July 4 of 1776. He is an excellent and imaginative writer, and you won't be disappointed.---

Two hundred thirty years ago, a group of men - men of influence, wisdom, and courage - gathered together to sign a Document and birth a Nation:

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

And so began the war for our Independence, a war where we threw off the stifling apron-strings of our Mother, Britain, and began our journey of discovery. The War was long, and fraught with set-backs, disasters, tremendous hardship, and discouragement. But through it all, one man held true to the ideal and fought with dogged determination to keep his army and his new country from giving in.

General George Washington. He was not necessarily a brilliant man, but he was honorable and resolute. He had been given the duty of defeating the British and winning the War, and he pursued his orders with unflinching persistence.

And in October of 1781, the British General, Cornwallis, surrendered at Yorktown, VA.

The United States of America was free.

But freedom doesn't come easily. The States had adopted the Articles of Confederation in early 1781. The Articles gave the States many sovereign powers, and any changes to the Articles had to be approved by nine of the thirteen States. Federal power was practically non-existent: it couldn't raise taxes, it couldn't regulate trade, it couldn't stop States from printing their own money.

With authority to act scattered throughout the States, and an anemic central government, America threatened to dissolve into a group of bickering little provinces. The States had their own armies, their own international ambassadors, they argued over interstate trade, the justice system left quite a bit to be desired. In other words, it was a bit of a mess!

In 1786, after much unrest and disputes among the States, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton petitioned that the Constitutional Convention convene to write a new Constitution which would strengthen and unify our young Nation. The man the Convention elected to preside over this process was none other than George Washington, the man all Americans look on as our First Father. General Washington was reluctant - he had recently lost his brother, and he preferred to remain at Mount Vernon, managing his lands. Finally, however, he accepted the duty, and made his way to Pennsylvania.

Under his calm influence, eventually each of the States made compromises and came to agreements, negotiated the power of the Federal Government and State Governments, outlined the authorities of the branches of the Federal Government, and placed the ultimate power of Government firmly in the hands of the People. The first draft was accepted in August of 1787 after months of wrangling and debating. Five weeks later, on September 17th, the convention dismissed, and the Constitution went to the States for ratification. It wasn't until July of 1788 that the Convention received word that the ninth State, South Carolina had ratified the Constitution.

Finally, enough States had accepted the Constitution to begin to implement its laws. Of course, there was further debate about the Bill of Rights, which were passed by a total of three quarters of the States by late 1791, but now America had her "supreme Law of the Land," which began:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Thus we began to work out this fine balance between the Power and Authority of the People, and that of the Government. Men and women have stepped up to serve our country in war and in peace throughout our 230-year history. Elected officials, military, police, firemen, medical personnel, charity organizations, human rights groups, and so many more have furthered the cause of Freedom and Liberty in our country.

But for me, no group deserves our honor and our respect more than the men and women who serve her in our Armed Forces. Each man and woman who enters the military takes this oath:

...I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same...

Our men and women do not swear to a particular leader. They are not members of a cult of personality. They swear to uphold the Law, and the Supreme Law of the United States of America is the Constitution.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what the Fourth of July means to me. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," "We the People," and "I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same."

Happy 231st birthday, America! I love you dearly, and pray that God will continue to bless and guide you. I pray that you will always be that "shining city on the hill," a light and example to the rest of the world of Freedom and Liberty.

Happy birthday!

Remember me?

Ah. I had never seen this video before, so I am grateful to the Blog Father for noting it, and to Real Clear Politics for bringing it to his attention.

Thank you, Lizzie. I do remember. I will always remember.

God bless these men and women who sacrifice so much out of love for their families, their neighbors, and their country.