The Only Solace

I'm sorry, but, even though it is only one/tenth of the way through, I am going to take a short break from the posts on reformed theology (see the previous post).


The reason I am going to take this break is because of a tremendous tragedy very close to my heart, in terms of miles, it is only about twenty.  Yes, I am talking about this week's spontaneous tornadoes in the area, the worst of which being the EF-4 (the second-highest) in Granbury, said town that is only twenty miles away.

Listen to the following song while reading.

What to do when tragedy strikes?  6 people died, that is double the amount of homicides that Granbury has suffered since at least 2000.  here is one verse that is comfort in all sorrows:  "I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot be moved-- He who keeps you will not slumber."  That is from Psalm 121:1-3.  Remember, for Spanish. use NVI, don't trust Google Translate for scripture. Another: "all things work together for the good of those who fear him."And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Note that this is for "those who love God"- His children- Christians- those who are saved.  "Christ is the only solace for the troubled, the only rest for the weary, the only satisfaction for the starving, the only saviour for the damned."  That is all of us, we are all of those.  Christ is the only comfort in time of trouble.  Run to Jesus, run to Jesus, and live.  Now, I'm not talking about physical life, though the life of a Christian is much fuller than that of an un-believer, this speaks of eternal life, true life, eternal fellowship with God.

I used to live in this town, only a year and two-thirds ago- tomorrow.  My Dad delivered pizzas, undoubtedly to this subdivision.  I have friends who lived near there, some from Church lived only 5 miles away.  We were so close we had to get to a safe place twice.  Once with twenty kids at Church, and again back at our house.  One of the Granbury care groups stayed where they were until midnight.  When tragedy strikes close to the heart, still Christ is the only solace.  And what a comfort he is.

The Doctrines of Grace #1: T

T.  In case you were wondering where that came from, and what it means, it comes from TULIP, the device used to remember the 5 points of reformed theology, also known as the Doctrines of Grace.

T, this stands for Total Depravity, the inability of man to do anything good. This is backed by Romans 3:10, and the Bible even goes as far as to say that all our "good" deeds are worthless. (Isa 64:6)  

Why is this so important, why does it hold relevance to our lives?  Because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23),  although physical death is a consequence of sin, physical death is not necessarily what this verse is talking about.  No, this verse speaks of the eternal consequences.  Eternal damnation, separation from God and his wrath forever, a worse thing has never occurred.

OK, all have sinned, sinners go to hell, where is the hope in this?  Is all lost?  No, may it never be.  For "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." (1 Timothy 1:15)

There is great hope, crazy hope, a greater hope has never been imagined.  But how do we obtain that hope? That, my friend, is for another story, another time.

Uno mensaje breve, cuando utilizar la Biblia, el aun mejor traduccion que utilizar es la Nuevo Version Internaccional, buscar biblegateway, donde el hiperenlace redirecciones.

Potential.

Today I went to some friends' house to help them clean up their yard, raking leaves, clearing walkways, moving mulch and firewood piles.  A good work day.

They have a very nice property, bluebonnets (when they come up) fill the front yard, a pool and patio one one side, a chicken coop on the other, and most prominently, a shady back yard with large oaks and a veranda and walkways.  As I was working there, a word came to mind:  Potential.  Yes, this was a yard with great potential, carefully tended to, it could become a place of life, and beauty, and music (pardon the LOTR reference!), a paradise.  However, left alone, it would inevitably become an eyesore, overflowing with fallen, decomposing leaves.

This yard is like our human hearts, without the tender, affectionate and constant care of the gardener,  our hearts our filled with junk, clutter, and sin.  However, when Christ is constantly there, through the word, our hearts can become filled, beautiful, clean, holy. Then, it begins to overflow, our lives affect those of others, strengthening them through the word, and in Christ.  We must clean our hearts, taking out the junk, and bringing it to Christ, for his will for our life is our sanctification.  Mortifying sin, growing to be like Christ, these are integral parts of the Christian life, and they only happen through constant time in the word and prayer.

So, how's your garden doing?

Thank you.

Ego no siempre fidelis, sed Dios siempre fidelis, siempre indulget.

Lord, I come on bended knee,
Begging for your forgiveness.
Once again, I have failed the King,
Inciting righteous wrath,
And judgement.
But you have said that there is:
"no condemnation for those
who are under Christ Jesus".
And for this, I thank you.

You have said that we have been:
"Justified.. by grace".
And even when we sin,
That grace is still there.
Lord, merciful Heavenly father,
You have chosen us before time.
Knowing what evil deeds,
we would commit,
but choosing us anyway.
And for this, I thank you.

Lord, "forgive us
our trespasses".
Our evil deeds are,
beyond measure,
and even our "good deeds,
are like filthy rags in your sight.
Continue to purge me,
Ridding me of this sin.
You have sent the Holy Spirit.
And for this, I thank you.

"Empty me, of the selfishness inside.
Every vain ambition,
And the poison of my pride...
Lord empty me, of me,
So I can be,
Filled with you."

An early snow.

Wow!  Yesterday (15-1-13), it snowed. Yay!  It's so early.  Very shocking.  Coming right after I had said that we needed another hard freeze to delay the mowing season and kill the bugs.  It was the first real snow that we had had on this wonderful three-acre property, so we had lots of fun, and lots more snow!  With a good accumulation of 1.5-2 inches of mixed sleet from the night, and snow from the day, it was wonderful. Despite that the winter didn't come in until Christmas Day, it has been a good one so far.  all shallow standing water was frozen when we left at 03:00 this afternoon, and we are still finding drifts and ice in cold, shaded places.

My room has no insulation, and is very cold.  However, the summer is forecasted to be very hot again.  We could use a lot of rain.  The reservoir has gotten very low.  but the burn ban as been lifted for a little while, so we took advantage of it and burned a lot of trash wood.  It was a great, huge fire, with sparks going everywhere, amazing.  Heb. 12:29. 

Kristen Culp is renting out the little cottage on our property now.  Fun fixing that place up.  School started last week.  Going well so far.  However, the hours that we played in the snow Tuesday wrecked my schedule.  Dad's job is going well at Fossil Rim.  He becomes an official employee with all the required and included benefits that come with it and are not always possible for the company to provide.  Sorry, I need to stop dropping random political jokes and jabs too much , but I couldn't resist that one.  In case none of y'all know, Dad oversees the homeschool outreach &c at Fossil Rim, a local reserve.

Sorry for not posting in so long.  We are getting Internet at my house soon, so that problem should be fixed.  Also, sorry for any typos.  The library computers have large. clunky keyboards that my fingers are not used to.  Google's spell check does not catch everything.

Apathy

"Natalynn, do you realize you just saw history?"  That was my remark to my younger sister after we watched Michael Phelps win his record 19th gold medal.

"Hm," and a frustratingly apathetic shrug was all that came from the new nine-year-old.

"Natalynn, you know how Mom and Dad talk about Nadia Blackovitch (actually, it's Comanecie, but didn't remember that at the time.), well this is the Nadia of our day, except better."

The same response was all that I got from Neema.

Did she not get it?  No, I think she just didn't care, 'cause she sure got Gabby Douglas.

And nothing I can do can change it, showing every race Michael Phelps ever swam, in his life, from every angle that there was, slow motion, regular, and backwards just won't cut it.  If she doesn't care, she just doesn't care.

This scenario can become an excellent  theological example.

If I'm witnessing to an atheist, or a muslim, or anybody else, if they don't care, I can yammer on 'till my lungs burst, but, it ain't going to help them none 'til they care.  An apathetic person is impossible to convert.

But, God can unplug that little cork on their  cold heart's wall, and once that dam's been uncorked, there's no holding it back.

So if you're witnessing to a resistant friend, you can't do nothing except pray, so do that.

Providence story- amazing.

I have a really nice bible with a good case, with two journals (one for DL, and one regular), a notepad, letters from my Family, pens, highlighters, church directory, church events sheet, verses for 3000-12 (which i did get), forms for my tripping basic (which I didn't get), a paper with my name and adress on it , and those green card you get when you check in at the lodge that say "Welcome to Deerfoot!"in it.  So here the story is in Boss beak form

Camper Ben Phillips- Boss! ( Well at least that's what they would say to be polite)   
Pioneer 3-day canoe hike led by Chief Glen Perry- Boss!,
Ben going on the hike- Boss!,
Ben taking his Bible on the hike- Boss!
Chief Glen Perry overestimating the time it would take to get forom the Lean-to the the pick-up place- Beak!
So the canoers get ther 2 hours and ten minutes before Cheif Dut is supposed to pick them up- Beak!
Chief Glen calling 15-minute quiet time- Boss!
Ben particpating and when done leaving his bible on the dock- Boss!
Then when Chief Dut arrives Ben forgets too get his bible- Beak!
when unpacking Ben realizes that his bible is not there- Beak! (there were tears in this part)
Mrs. Vera Fitch of the US Embassy- Boss!
Mrs. Vera likes kayaking- Boss!
Mrs. Vera kayaking in the spot where the pioneers were- Boss!
And Noticing Ben's Bible!
Get's Ben's bible and opens it- Boss!
Notices Ben's Name Adress and a mention of Deerfoot- Boss!
Calls Deerfoot and tells them that she found Ben's Bible and is mailing it to his house in Texas- BOSS!

More boss than Beak- Our God is an awesome God.

Carzy Deerfoot Itinerary

So, this weekend Mom decides to check my plane tickets, good Idea seeing as it [DL] starts Saturday. 

Departure Dfw- Newark 6:00AM Friday Morning. Wow! we live two hours away from the airport (if you have good traffic, which you probably would at 5:00 in the morning!) so we would have to leave... 3 o'clock.  Not happening, so we will stay with some friends near the airport and only have to leave at 4:30!  Not to mention we get a good Mama date out of it.  But Mom still gets back before Natalynn gets up.  And I get back at 11:00 at night, so crazy itinerary, but worth it. Definitely. Uh-huh amen  hallelujah.

Can't wait to get back to the lodge

WOW

Amazing.  Great piainst. he played it by ear.

What happened to an all-sovereign God?

I'm sorry but this is another social/political post. But this to serious to be left alone.


Are you ready for this? I sure hope you're sitting down.
So many in the church has left God.
Woah! Crazy! True. :-(.
And left him for what? Chaos, without a king. That king that they don't have is the true and living only sovereign God. Who predestined us, according to his plan for his glory.


What did they leave him for? Luck. Easily Satan's easiest lie to believe, Luck is an fundamental (not-to-believe) doctrine. The bible on many occasions calls God A sovereign God. But don't let me tell you, let scripture. Here are some verses that affirm God's sovereignty.


Isaiah 42:9
⁹ See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare;before they spring into being I announce them to you.

Acts 4:24
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,


Haggai 2:20-23

²⁰ The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: ²¹ “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.²² I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.

²³ “‘On that day, ’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Clearly God Has a plan, Hear and believe oh skeptic!

What the flop??

I was looking up the legalization of abortion in the US when I found a link to a supreme court case, Planned Parenthood v. Casey I clicked it and the page said the summary of the case was this:

A Pennsylvania law that required spousal notification prior to obtaining an abortion was invalid under the Fourteenth Amendment because it created an undue burden on married women seeking an abortion. Requirements for parental consent, informed consent, and 24-hour waiting period were constitutionally valid regulations. Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part.

What the flop??  The spouse should know if you're terminating  a Pregnancy!  "under the fourteenth amendment" made me wonder what the rights the 14th amendment gave, so having my copy of the constitution handy, I looked amendment XIV.   I found this: Section 1 (part of it) "...; nor shall any State deprive any person of Life Liberty or property..." and abortion doesn't?  crazy, It deprives them of life, and in doing so, liberty and property!!

Look supreme court, if you're going to use time, and money to take a case in, at least READ the part of the constitution that they're allegedly abridging.  If (talking to the Supreme Justice) your Mom decided to have an abortion, would that not deprive you of the Life, Liberty, and Property you now have??  And without the due process of Law, that comes next in the amendment that is already being legally broken!  'Cause how can they go through the due process of Law. when you aren't even visible to the naked eye!!  In the popular patriotic song "God Bless America"  The Chorus begins God Bless America / Land That I love / Stand beside her and guide her It should end She needs it so much.

So I'm asking you Brothers in sisters in Christ, and fellow citizens and/or inhabitants of the United States.  To Pray, Pray for our leaders, pray for our citizens, pray for our country, and above all pray for the souls of the People.

"We the people of the United States of America" need to establish a more perfect union, by changing gradually the on we've got, and establish justice.  This can only be done through Jesus Christ, Pray Brothers, Pray, Devote Time every day for solid Truthful, biblical prayer, nothing has or ever will have more power than prayer.  My sister Laurynn, has all those little business-card sized note-cards above her desk, one of them says "If a problem isn't worth Praying about, it's not worth worrying about" another reads "Life is fragile handle with prayer" that is evident so obviously when Men and Women who call themselves Christians (I'm not referring to anyone is particular)  can willingly extinguish a life.  Pray that their hearts will be changed.

FREEDOM!!

A couple of months ago, I was reading a World Magazine, and saw an ad for Good News Club, natrually a s a helper in Good News Club I wanted to check it out.  The Header read "Share the Gospel in Public Schools? Yes it's legal!*" note that asterix, it referenced to a footnote that said "according to the supreme court Milford Central School vs. Good News Club"  so, being in Ruston and having access to the Internet I looked it up; I found this.Sweet Day!

Restrictions on speech that takes place in a limited public forum must not discriminate on the basis of the speaker's viewpoint and be reasonable in light of the forum's purpose. Because the school's exclusion of the Good News Club violated this principle, the school violated the Club's free speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. Furthermore, the school's claim that allowing the club to meet on its property would violate the Establishment Clause lacked merit and thus was no defense to the club's First Amendment claim.

Sweet Day!

Sermon from Pastor Stephen

Just in case you haven't been to GCC, here's an example sermon, you can find more of them at gccministries.org if you try to retype this, don't forget its .org, .com brings you to another church's site.  enough of that, video. (that link takes you to the Media center, where you can select videos or audio.)

Good song, I love it

By Keith and Kristyn Getty, We sing alot of their songs at our church.  Our worship pastor got the CD, and we sang this song one Sunday. Love this song

Zechariah and Mary

In Luke 1, we see two different stories with similar themes.  The first story is when The angel Gabriel announces to Zechariah the birth of John the baptist.  The second is when the Angel announces to Mary the Birth of Jesus.  Two entirely different results. Zechariah doubts, and pays a price for it. Mary Believes.  Mary's faith was in stark contrast to that of Zechariah, and Zechariah was a priest. A pretty High-up Priest too, he was in the temple, burning incense when the angel appeared to him.  He was scared, I would be too.  I can just imagine him thinking "400 hundred years of silence and now this angel appears, to ME!" Zechariah was then told about the birth of John The Babtist. He asked the angel the question, "How can this be? For I am old and my wife is barren."  In the cenuries before, prophets would, with their prophecies in the far future, propecy of things soon to come.  If those soon things did not come to pass, they would be deemed false prohets, and stoned.  Zechariah's question was logical, but showed signs of a wavering faith.  Gabriel answers, "I am Gabriel I stand in the prescence of God."  Zechariah, how much proof would you need from an angel.  Why would you, a priest want proof from an angel?  Mary, the virgin, however, was told that she would have a baby, believed what she was told.   A  lowly cheesemaker (no offense dad!) believed a more ridicoulous thing than a priest!  May we all have Mary faith, not Zechariah!

Blog up!

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to visit my blog.  I will try to keep you updated with my life and post at least once every two weeks.
Benjamin