A Child and his/her puke. I hate it. Cant stand it. Keely’s puke wasn’t too bad, real watery, not much substance. Lila’s puke was a little worse, mainly formula and baby cereal, but she only hurled a couple times. Ezra however, his body really gets into it. All the food from the past week is apparently still in there and wanting splash on the floor.
It’s just that season I guess.
So we picked my bro up from the Marines in South Carolina this past week, and we all rode home in an RV on Fri. It was late at night after about 10 hours of driving that we resorted to entertaining ourselves this way: (the better part is in the middle, involving the cookie)
Tonight my brothers, Ryan and Josh, are driving down to South Carolina with me to see our youngest brother Nick graduate from Marine Boot Camp. He’s a Marine now, and I am very proud of what he has done and what he will continue to do. I can’t wait to see him! My parents are also going down along with many other members of our family. I hope he knows and feels our support for him. I’ll be glad to bring him home so that my kids can see their uncle Nick. They def missed him, they would pray for him, sing random senseless songs for him, play with the GI Joes and say that they are uncle Nick. I’m excited about this week. I love my brother.
After a brutal game of Othello, where I showed no mercy to Amanda, we both finished our latest reads for the year.
Mine was Everyday Talk. It’s a book on parenting that I thought was pretty helpful. There were a lot of examples that were used that served me in making it more practical. Though the times that there weren’t any examples seemed to be the times I needed them the most. The best chapter was called “Big sins, Little Sins”, and will hopefully prove to be very beneficial. It was a helpful easy read, but it seemed to be only that one chapter that left a mark.
…I cried purple tears…
So….yesterday was cool. Amanda and I went out for a “breakfast date” to a somewhat nearby little coffee shop. We were sitting on the couch inside the shop enjoying the espresso when in walked Terry O’Quinn the actor who plays John Locke on LOST!!! As you know we’re big fans, so I got uber excited. I drank my coffee really fast and decided that I needed to go say something. I went up to him and talked with him for a min, and then he wanted to say hi to Amanda because she was still sitting on the couch, and he talked to us for like 3 min. He was very kind, had nice teeth, no scar, and maybe gave us a clue.
That was pretty exciting for us! Now we really cant wait to watch our new BFF in the premier next week!!
He wasn’t like this, he was just getting coffee so he was a bit cleaner and nicer.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! (at least in Baltimore)
Published January 8, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a CommentThe Night Before Festivus
‘Twas the night before Festivus, when all through Charm City
Ravens fans were stirring and even felt giddy.
The jerseys were hung by the chimney with flare,
In hopes that Joe Flacco soon would be there.
The fans were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of the playoffs danced in their heads.
And when we awoke and January 10th was the date,
We just settled down for a winter’s tailgate,
When out in the end zone there arose such a clatter,
The opponent looked over to see what was the matter.
The season had boiled down to one single game
as the players were looking for more than just fame
And what to my wondering eyes looked intense,
For it was Ray Lewis…and the Baltimore defense.
A terrifying unit, so lively and quick,
They’ll hit you, they’ll haunt you, or even grab the pick.
More rapid than wolves these hunters they came,
And Ray whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“T-Sizzle! now, JJ! now, Bannan, Haloti!
On, Trevor! on Leonhard! on, Reed and Samari!
To the top of the mountain! to the top of the hill!
Knock them out! Get the ball! Now in for the kill!”
And then, the offense, led by a menacing line,
Came onto the field and was ready to fly.
A three-headed monster was at running back,
led by McClain, a big rumbling mack.
And Mason the veteran, with his shoulder so sore,
Kept reining in passes, one, two, three, more!
And finally, a sight so perfect, so new;
a quarterback to be proud of, a little like Johnny U.
Joe Flacco was ready to take the city by storm,
his cannon for an arm much better than norm,
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And led them downfield, the fans going berserk.
The Ravens were ready to give such a gift
to the fans of Baltimore who needed the lift.
Coach Harbaugh exclaimed, while his team looked so sleek,
“Happy Festivus to all, and we’ll see you next week.”
(From an email I recieved)
GO RAVENS!
Ummm…prob won’t happen. I mean, it could, but realistically… probably not. I can at least recommend them or not.
Amanda and I are keeping a running list of the books we’ve read this year on the right of the page.
So, I’ll do the three I’ve read so far.
- The book on Jed (Johnathan Edwards)- First off its a big book. One of the bigger ones I’ve ever read. I really enjoyed it though. Read mostly like a novel which made it easier. Got a little tough towards the end (a lot of political things going on, but it was helpful to learn). I would Def recommend it to anyone wanting a in depth look at Jed or for anyone just wanting a good bio. Read it.
- The Book on the Emergent Church – Very helpful in understanding what their movement is all about, and why its so messed up. It should also help with your discernment. I would recommend to anyone wanting to know what the hoopla is over Rob Bell, and why he and all who follow him need our prayers. Read it.
- The Gospel and Evangelism Book – Nice small easy read. You’ll prob finish in two or three sittings. Pretty basic stuff, mostly clarifying misunderstandings. Helpful. Challenging. Read it, it wont set you back much financially or in time.
Here is my new years resolution. I wasn’t planning on making any (Don’t aim, can’t miss).
So far I’ve already done one (I really just finished it though, I had started it in ‘08)! Pretty sure I won’t get 52, but if I end up reading 20-30 that would be pretty sweet.
The hard part is…applying all 52 books. Plus you also have at least 52 sermons. Any conference teachings. Any additional teachings that a friend says “You really gotta listen to this!” And finally, all that you read from the Word! You could be looking at 250-400 points of application for 2009. If done faithfully, our 2010 resolution might be to start changing water into wine for more people.
Amanda: “I think I’m hungry”
Eric: “Well, lets go eat something”
Amanda: “Lets”?
Eric: “We are “One Flesh”
Amanda: “Well, your half is bigger.”
Pretty fun, not gonna lie.
So, as most of you now know, God has pulled that little baby out of Amanda this past Sunday! She weighed in at 6 pounds 15 ounces, 19.5 inches long, and much more hair than either of her siblings. Both Amanda and Lila are doing fine. Dad is doing fine too (thanks for asking). Ezra seems to like Lila, although he keeps referring to her as “the other white baby”. We don’t know what that’s about.
Here are some pics of the wee one, and you can get more from that link on the side of this page.
Another wonderful post and reminder from our friend Deborah! Thanks Deb!
Here it is! What you’ve all been asking for! Here is the Great Debate! A debate between a presuppositional apologetic (Greg Bahnsen) and an atheist (Gordon Stein). Rare find indeed!
“As all of us prepare our hearts and minds for worship tomorrow, my prayer is that we go expecting to encounter the glory of God, his powerful presence, first and foremost. I pray that, as we sleep, God would expand our want to sing of who he is and hear of what he’s done. I pray that we go ready and willing to feel the grief of our sin so that we can feel the glory of his salvation. I pray that we go, in other words, to see God on display, not preachers or musicians. A worship service is not the place to showcase human talent. It’s the place for God to showcase his Divine treasure. A worship service that contains the power to change us (even us preachers) is a worship service that leaves us with grand impressions of Divine personality, not grand impressions of human personality. Isaiah did not leave the temple in Isaiah 6 thinking, “What great music, what a great building, what a great preacher.” He left thinking, “What a great God.”
Perhaps John Stott’s words will be used to grow our love for the the great Gospel we will encounter tommorrow: “The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.” Amen!
Remember: we gather for worship not to escape the real world, but to be reminded that this world is not there is. For the Christian, the best is yet to come. So worship humbly and hard tomorrow. You need it!”
-From: BetweenTwoWorlds
I thought this was interesting. Apparently a group of researches from Cambridge have proved that we all came from one individual ancestor. Read more here (short read)
Here is a link to two great reads on OUR role in the Sunday meetings. Oh, how important it is that we be an active member of our churches, not just showing up on Sundays or Care Group, but coming to those gatherings prepared to be used to build up the body, to worship God and listen and apply faithfully. May we be “expositional listeners” and may we “take care how we listen”.
We were just talking about this after Care Group tonight. How does Prayer fit with the Sovereignty of God and His Will? Does Prayer “change” anything? I got home and came across this little read, and thought it was helpful. Fun stuff!
So I found out today about a bet revolving around my younger brother Nick. There was a contract written up, that if Nick signed, would keep him from cutting any hair from the shoulders up, for one year. If Nick keeps the deal, anyone else who signs the contract (7 of his friends and brothers already have) will pay him $30 each. When his hair is long it turns into a huge curly fro, and his beard is dark and very patchy, which should be pretty nasty in a year. This is his senior year of high-school, senior pictures, senior prom and all that stuff. If he sticks with it he’s gonna look pretty nasty, but he’ll be set to make at least $210.
Should be fun!
From Deborah Sharpes blog:
Yesterday morning I had the privilege of praying for my church’s Sunday service with several other members of my care group. A couple of the guys from my care group had started praying before the service a couple of weeks ago and encouraged the rest of us to join them. It was such an encouraging time. Not only were we able to lift up the church and the various people who would be serving us that day, but it also helped to prepare our hearts for the message we would hear. I left that time excited to encounter God in the service and anticipating His presence. What a great pleasure it is to join with other saints in prayer for the local church! I feel so honored to be walking along side these people as we strive to live our lives to the glory of God. Thank you all for your constant example of love for the local church!
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
My friend Kevin, wrote a very helpful post on the freewill of man and the sovereignty of God! 
Thanks Kevin for making it simple for us simple folk!
How stirring these stories are of faith lived!
| They were then marched off to prison to join the other “Gospellers,” who also had been arrested. When Rose Allen was placed at the bar before her judges, she answered their questions not only with spirit but with true wisdom, positively turning their questions into ridicule. They asked her what she had to say about the Sacrifice of the Mass, and the answer she gave was more than emphatic, but in those rugged times it would be understood more than we perhaps do in these more polite days. She said, “I say it stinketh in the face of God! and I dare not have to do therewith for my life.” “Are you not a member of the Catholic church?” “I am not a member of yours, for ye be members of Antichrist, and shall have the reward of Antichrist.”
“What say you of the See of the Bishop of Rome?” “I am none of his. (Read More) |
So, my wife Amanda and I had Date Night the other night (Fri), and we hadn’t had one for a couple weeks so we were both really looking forward to this time together to be alone and actually talk to each other. I just want to say that I’m pretty sure I have the most amazing wife ever. Yup, she has got to be up there towards the top of the “All-Time Greatest Wives” list. I told her, on our date, how I’ve often thought “Lord, why would you give me such an incredible woman?”. And I truly often think that. My thoughts usually end up concluding two things: 1- That I am supposed to be a amazing man so as to match the “amazingness” of my wife, or 2- That God is trying to beat me over the head with his goodness (in giving me Amanda) so that I might eventually submit to Him. Either way, I’ve been blessed with the most wonderful gift, a wife that I couldn’t even dream up(seriously), and I am soo very grateful to God for her.
Oh, I just thought I’d say that God has blessed me with the best care group! I always leave so encouraged, and built up. I’m so thankful for the privilege to serve them and be involved in their lives. What a blessing they are to me and my soul. God is good.
The great man, John Calvin, had his birthday a couple days ago. He has long been buried but we benefit greatly even today from his life and the grace of God at work in and through him. Here’s a quote from an essay by Packer entitled “John Calvin and Reformed Europe”:
What kind of man was he? Not the ogre of legend! Calvin the egotistical fanatic, hard and humorless, the doctrinaire misanthrope, the cruel dictator with his arbitrary, uncaring, devilish God is a figure of fancy, not of fact. The real Calvin was very different.
He was a sallow, sharp-featured, black-haired, slightly-built French-man, with big brown eyes that sparkled or glared according to his mood. To avoid attacks of migraine he ate little (one meal a day), and as he aged and his health ebbed he grew bent, gaunt, and emaciated. He was never physically strong, and by the age of thirty he had broken his health. In the closing years of his life (he died at fifty-four), he was constantly ill with indigestion, headaches, gallstones, hemorrhoids, gout, and fever, all superimposed upon chronic asthma and probably pulmonary tuberculosis. Yet John Calvin spent himself unstintingly to the last in the service of God and men.
He would not sleep more than four hours a night, and even when ill he kept four secretaries going with his French and Latin dictation, getting through an amount of work that was not far from miraculous. Daily sermons and lectures, the production of commentaries on most of the Bible, a steady flow of theological treatises, a massive correspondence, not to mention constant counseling, labor in Geneva’s consistory court, and entertaining endless visitors–how did he manage it all? It is easier to ask the question than to answer it.
(HT:Justin Taylor)
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