[walkwjc]

Here again,
Following the presidential debates. Confusing I know, but if you are Christian, you vote Bush, if you are in the Oil Field, you vote Bush. Pretty easy for me I guess.

I got to go to the first PTF (parent teacher fellowship) meeting at my daugher's school. This is her third year in a christian school but the first in this school. I think it is a pretty cool idea to have PTF meetings. We spent about 15 minutes on school stuff and an hour fellowshiping with other christians. Got to meet alot of new people who are christians and I needed that. Laney(my daughter) loves her teacher, and school, and church. She is only 6 years old but she surpasses me in her faith in Christ.
**Teary Moment** We were riding on our tractor, her in my lap, and we went over some big bumps and the tractor is pretty loud, and I asked her if she was scared riding with me. She said "No Dad, we've got God ridin with us, what's there to be scared of." If I could apply that kind of faith in my life, there would be nothing I could not do. I have been truely blessed.

God shows me every day, the blessings I have. Even when I moan to Him about the strife in my life and about how things are bad for me, He blesses me. It is the parable about the man with no shoes. I complain to God because our church is slow to find a new pastor. God shows me the man with no church. I complain about my confusion with scripture, God shows me a man not allowed to read the Bible. And it always happens that way with me. Is it that way with everyone? Are we not to be content with our blessings until the Return? I thank God for my blessings and am humble before Him, but evermore I am shown my illcontent ways and repent.

**Another teary moment** Laney was sitting at the kitchen table eating a banana. She was unaware that I was watching her and i saw her giving a thumbs up to the ceiling, so my curiosity got the better of me. I asked what she was doing...she said " This banana tastes sooo good, I was just giving God a thumbs up for creating it." Man she is 6 years old. She feels blessed with the fulfilling taste of a good banana, and it seems I stumble over the smallest bump in my life sometimes.

OK done rambling.

Love ya God, and thanks.

-d

[bigpirate]

That is awesome... I have a little sister who isn't afraid to tell her teachers about christ and sing christian songs to them, and she is 10... She is the reason I have the conviction to argue against the attacks on christianity in my lit class, and to make sure I know what I am talking about as well.

[walkwjc]

Yeah, BP I know what you are saying. I almost let myself get angry when people try to argue with me about my christianity, but like the proverb says,'Don't argue with a fool'. But just in case you need a little ammuntion here is something I got in my Email. Pretty interesting little hypothesis.


The professor of a university challenged his students with this question.
"Did God create everything that exists?" A student answered bravely, "Yes, he did". The professor then asked, "If God created everything, then he created evil. Since evil exists (as noticed by our own actions), so God is evil."


The student couldn't respond to that statement causing the professor to conclude that he had "proved" that "belief in God" was a fairy tale, and therefore worthless.
Another student raised his hand and asked the professor, "May I pose a question? " "Of course" answered the professor.
The young student stood up and asked : "Professor does Cold exists?" The professor answered, "What kind of question is that?...Of course the cold exists... haven't you ever been cold?" The young student answered, "In fact sir, Cold does not exist. According to the laws of Physics, what we consider cold, in fact is the absence of heat. Anything is able to be studied as long as it transmits energy (heat). Absolute Zero is the total absence of heat, but cold does not exist. What we have done is create a term to describe how we feel if we don't have body heat or we are not hot."
And, does Dark exist?", he continued. The professor answered "Of course".
This time the student responded, "Again you're wrong, Sir. Darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in fact simply the absence of light. Light can be studied, darkness cannot. Darkness cannot be broken down. A simple ray of light tears the darkness and illuminates the surface where the light beam finishes. Dark is a term that we humans have created to describe what happens when there's lack of light."
Finally, the student asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?" The professor replied, "Of course it exists, as I mentioned at the beginning, we see violations, crimes and violence anywhere in the world, and those things are evil." The student responded, "Sir, Evil does not exist. Just as in the previous cases, Evil is a term which man has created to describe the result of the absence of
God's presence in the hearts of man. After this, the professor bowed
down his head, and didn't answer back.
The young man's name was ALBERT EINSTEIN

Laney has these big dark deep brown eyes, which I think are her most potent witnessing tool. And no we don't make our 6 year old go door to door, but when she is giving the gospel to her aunts, uncles, grandparents, me, you cannot look into those deep pools of understanding and deny that God exists and is working through her. She is steadfast in her faith and has actually debated with some of the more lost members of our family. Pretty hard to debate her when she says' God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, right grandma?' Cause grandma doesn't know the bible. And 'all you gotta do is say with your mouth and mean it in your heart that Jesus is your risen king, and repent of all your sins. How hard is that Grandpa?' She has definatly gotten God in where I could not. And I thank the Lord for her. Well enough bragging

I pray to God to give me my daughters boldness.

-d

[Meggie moo moo]

Whoa.

Whoa...

Your daughter sounds amazing.

And that story about Albert Einstein...whoa.

[walkwjc]

Whoa.

Whoa...

Are you riding a horse?J/K

Yes, She has amazed me. And I don't mean to go on and on about her like a doting father, but she does amaze me. Just though I would share that with you, my dear friends.

-d

[Anchored]

Awww....not only does she sound adorable, but she truly does sound amazing as well. Haha. I have a six-year-old little sister, Is Laney your only child?

And hey, how are you today? And yes, I did change my blog name.

[AuthenticGroove]

The words you speak
actions spoken
Make me feel week
down and broken
Insuffecient
I yearn for more
In remission
for whats in store
You are a light
Unto my eyes
a star so bright
shines through the lies
keep up your faith
and I will too
In Christ we're safe
Among the few

My Dearest friend
I have the mind to say
Your uplifting words
Carry day to day
The light in me you see
Echoed again in you
Marking hunger for Him
Proud seeker of truth
The family you have
Protected by his love
Populates my prayers
I redirect above
Your lasting inspiration
Stimulates to seek
Enlightens the inspired
Encourages the meek
Strong-hearted can relate
Alike, profess our Lord
It's fellowship as this
I couldn't ask for more

My love to you in Christ's Holy name.

[walkwjc]

Awww....not only does she sound adorable, but she truly does sound amazing as well. Haha. I have a six-year-old little sister, Is Laney your only child?

Thank you. I also have a almost 3 yr old little boy. He is pretty much totally opposite of Laney. You know loud, hard headed, climbs things. But he is a blast. Cant wait to get home to see him.

I am great today, the weather in South Texas is an extrodinary gift from God of late. Blue sky's, mild temperatures. I watched a great sunrise yesterday with a million colors.
How can people see things in this world and not just realize that 'Hey...there really has to be someone who created it.' I don't know. I just know that when I see something spectacular in nature(like every day) I thank God for allowing me to know that it is his. I hope he smiles in admiration, when I appreciate his work.

Life is Good
Thank God
-d

[walkwjc]

I will post this in the general discussion too, but I just wanted my Blog fans to weigh in here, before I get hammered by the theology gang(they don't have a lot to do since Luke shut them down for a month )

Ok, I like the theology forum...alot. I have spent the past 2 months of membership here browsing through them and occasionally posting in threads I think I can offer a little insight to...but:

After reading some of the Calvinist/Non-Calvinist debates, I am in a quandry. They are extremely interesting and all are rich in scriptural references and none have radically changed my beliefs, but what really is the point of proving Calvinism. Maybe I don't fully understand it, and I am not looking for a fight to the death duel here, but why is it so important to prove predestination. Can we not function fully in Christ's Love with out thinking we were elected/chosen/predestined?

My brother in law goes to a nondenominational church that is split 50/50 over this issue and I really don't understand why it is so predominate. They all read the same bible and worship the same God, but this issue is dividing them.

The danger I see here is that if you believe you are predestined, to the extent that your actions no longer matter, what is the point of struggling over our sin? If no one can snatch us from Gods hand, why be moral and good if we have to struggle to achieve it?

Now I think (not to put words into your mouth) most Calvinists would reply: If you struggle so much with morality, maybe you are not of the elect.
I don't think the Bible advocates this stance.

Now, I am not really asking for a debate, or a million scriptural references on Calvinist/NonCalvinist, but an explaination of why this issue would split a church and why is it so important(even above loving our brothers and sisters and coming together to worship). Are we missing something here by dividing the Christian body?

Thanks everyone,
-d

[Anchored]

Haha. I have an almost-three-year-old brother as well. BUt he and the six-year-old are pretty much the same. Loud, love attention, talk to you about anything under the sun. Energetic. Always making some sort of movement/noise. Yes.

I'll get back to you on your predestination question once I have some time, but I have to go right now...

[walkwjc]

Well my thread in the General discussion is going pretty good. No fist fights yet. I have already gotten more out of the discussion there than a whole month of reading through the debates in theology. Still more to learn tho.
I tried to make it as non-debate as possible so the mods don't shut it down and if everyone there will just answer my questions and not rebut each other it will go pretty good.

Later
-d

[walkwjc]

Well my thread in the general discussion got shut down. The feds busted in the door and started shootin up the place. Well I got alot of good information and have become(after much meditation in scripture) more centered in my faith.

I know, Jesus is my risen savior and I accepted his gift of everlasting life. I repent of my sin. It really is that simple.

Lovin Jesus
-d

[Anchored]

Yeah, I've been following it.

[bigpirate]

You had a thread with questions? Wow... how come I didn't know about it! I would have kept the peace forcefully... somehow... although I couldn't actually do that... oh well.

[bigpirate]

We are missing something... actually, what it is is that we have too much. The church as it was supposed to be would have only been worried about being of one accord in the great commission. See, the issue does effect the way certain problems are dealt with, but it is no longer a central issue... why, you ask? Because OUR CHURCHES ARE SHRINKING TO THE POINT THAT INTERNAL ISSUES SHOULD NO LONGER MATTER!!! We need to all work together... helping each other in our weakness... those who believe in predestination fail to take into account God being outside of time... we are doing this all in real time, and we do have choices... God just knows what those choices will be already, and he places chances in front of everyone... those who make the wrong ones go by the wayside, but those who make the right ones (to follow Christ) are then also predestined, and foreknown, and justified, and glorified. It doesn't mean that anyone has less of a chance than anyone else. Arguing over silly things like this make one problem stick out... our lack of LOVE! LOVE is the greatest, better than faith and hope... Love never fails. If we simply lived by the spirit, one and all, and edified each other the way we should, the church would be alive again... and then, my friend, we can worry about which dead guy was right about predestination.