…Our Lord Jesus faced this test when Satan took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth, and their glory. Satan did not mind surrendering his authority to Jesus. He didn’t mind a universe without pornography or Islam or abortion or nuclear weaponry. Satan did not mind Judeo-Christian values. He wasn’t worried about “revival” or “getting back to God.” What he opposes was the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected for the sins of the world.

and

It’s sad to see so many Christians confusing Mormon politics or American nationalism with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sigh, I’m starting to like way to many baptist…  And while we are on the topic of purifying America, the Resurgence has a post where they warn that “Jesus’ greatest enemy was a purity movement….  The problem was that they thought they were the obedient ones.”  Sadly many of our churches fall into this category today.  We are more concerned with social change then we are changing the hearts of sinners, starting with our selves.  At least I know that I still have a lot of room to grow in grace and truth.

Share on Facebook

These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years.  Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.  Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre,  the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife.  After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

If I live to be 90 I’m already 1/3 of the way through my life.  Abraham lived to be 175 years old.  But I’m sure that even Abraham would tell you that life went by way to fast.  How then should we live?  I think two things, we should live in such a way that God will call us his friend (James 2:23).  And #2, you can almost miss this, I want to live in such a way that it could be said “After the death of Roger, God blessed Marci his daughter” and/or “Nyssa his wife” (if I should die before Nyssa).  We should live in such a way that our children will see our faith and that they will also come to be called a friend of God.

That is my goal anyways.

Share on Facebook

Also my friend Ronny’s mother went into the hospital this past week.  I spent a lot of time with them growing up and they are like family.  They think she might have had a mild hart attack but either way her blood was really thick so they put her on a blood thinner.  I need to call Ronny today to get a update, but please pray for her health.  Her name is Kathy.

As for Marci she’s going at 100+ MPH.  Let’s hope she does not have any accidents as bad as this guy…

Okay, yeah, I was just looking for a way to put that video into a post.  But hey I’m going with it.  She is almost at the walking by her self stage.  She likes to hold on to one finger as we walk her around but she will take two or three steps after letting go of us to get to what she wants.  I would put a picture of her up (because I’m a daddy and that’s what daddy’s do) but photobucket is down right now.  Oh, Nyssa put Marci in a 18 month outfit today.  So my 11 month old is fitting in 18 month old’s clothing…

Share on Facebook

I do think it might be good for us to just get away for a weekend and we have been looking into adopting a child.  So I think we could learn a lot form this conference.

Share on Facebook

Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.  She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.  Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.  The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. Abraham gave all he had to Isaac.  But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.

What?  Abraham took another wife?  And had like 6 kids?  He is like over 100 years old…

…

They say that God never uses the word ‘retirement’ he never stops using his people.  Abraham could have fallen into depression, after the death of his wife, but he refused to live in the past.  I think that as Christians we must never reach the point where we do not allow our selves to be used by God.  We can never say “I’m to old” or “I’m not smart enough” or “I’m not good enough” or any excuse.

Let us be like Abraham.  Full of life, never looking towards ‘retirement’ as a way to run away from work, but seeing it as a way to more fully serve the Lord with all our life.

Share on Facebook

Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb.  And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming.  And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself.  And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.  Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

I do love the story found in Genesis 24.  The ending is the best part “and he loved her”.  Isaac loved Rebekah.

I guess I have several things that come to mind about this passage.

• I hope that that is what people will say about me.  ”And Roger loved Nyssa” it’s true..  I need to live in such a way that when I die (if the Lord should terry) that the preacher man will say “He loved his wife, Nyssa”
• Just as Issac loved Rebekah, Jesus loves His church.  This is just a picture.  Marriage is just a picture.  It points to something bigger.  I guess marriage is not a end in and of it self.
• Also notice that they did not get a piece of paper from the government they did not have a priest pronounce them “man and wife”.  Not even a wedding, and yet we are told that “she became his wife”.  The piece of paper that Nyssa and my self have saying that we are married has as much power to make us husband as wife as the paper saying I was born at such and such a time and place makes me born.  And the preacher who says “I now pronounce you man and wife” has as much effect as the doctor who will declare a person to be dead.  No, I am not married to Nyssa because of some paper or because of some ceremony/celebration.  I am married to Nyssa because God has united us in a one flesh relation ship that can never be broken until one of us dies.

I guess for me Genesis 24 points towards so much more.  We have The Father, The Son and Holy Spirit all working together for the church.  We can see love and marriage.  It’s a great story of some of our first fathers in the faith and how in the everyday workings God can do great things.

Share on Facebook

Righteousness from within

I turn a blind eye to my own sin

Do not be fooled, O my soul

Evil is from within

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

On a side note she has not made me burn our NIV Study Bible… Yet  

Share on Facebook