The Good Portion

What follows is an example of what can happen when socialism is combined with pragmatism and human value is measured by cost accounting: Embedded video from CNN Video

(In which I remind and encourage myself and my loved ones to take this business seriously. And after which I'm convicted for having not yet read my own voter information guide.) Who governs this country? Who serves this country? You do. I do. We actively govern and serve one another every time we vote. God has given each of us this small unit of authority, this small act of service. He will hold us accountable for how we use it. When we do not vote, we fail to govern; we fail to serve. We neglect our God-given responsibility to govern and to serve. When we vote, but do it carelessly, we’ve carried out our God-given responsibility recklessly. Like any task God gives us to do, we should do it carefully and conscientiously, as worship - for the sake of His glory. As a Christian, I am a part of the body of Christ here on this earth. I am called to represent Him and His values here on earth. While my citizenship is in heaven, I am not there yet. I’ve been left here and given responsibil...

Really I need to be going to bed early tonight. I've got some reading to catch up on, and Paul's cold is catching up with me. My prayer was answered, however. I got through my week's jobs before it caught me. So I'm sucking on Cold-Eaze, hoping to minimize it. And finally, the real reason for my post: life . Here's a link to a brief (15 minute or so) speech delivered in Australia by abortion survivor Gianna Jesson . I challenge everyone who reads this to take a few minutes to watch. Actually I'm begging everyone to watch.

First of all, I would be remiss if I did not provide the link to Paul's Reformation Sunday message . Secondly, my friend Nahomi just posted her own excellent article . She does a great job of drawing connections to our times. Same subject matter, yet two very fresh treatments. I never tire of learning about the Protestant Reformation. I have a secret dream of teaching a church history series some day. (Well, I guess it's not a secret any more.)

...and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God , and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life again, and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Rev. 20: 4 "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it ." Mark 8: 34b-35 May God grant those of us who name the name of Christ the grace not only to live, but to die in a manner that so glorifies Him.

Our church had its first annual Reformation Sunday yesterday. It was really quite wonderful. Paul gave a lecture on Martin Luther and his part in the Protestant Reformation. Then Pastor Pat gave his sermon on Justification by Faith Alone. After that we had a lovely pot-luck for which many of the ladies had been busy preparing for a couple of days. Andi (Pat's wife) did a great job making everything look pretty on a shoestring budget. We all ate like kings. In the evening we congregated again, at Pat & Andi's and had more pot-luck and listened to Pat's message, "5 Reasons Why I'm Reformed" , in which he listed 10 reasons to be reformed. It was a great day, except for Paul. The minute he sat down after delivering his lesson he got the flu. Well, we thought it was a cold, but in less than 24 hours it's gone to his chest and he's got a high fever. He went to work today, which probably didn't help matters, but I think he'll be calling in sick to...

The Wall Street Journal is now stating what married folk have known for quite a while - "a happy wife makes for a happy life". Go ahead - take a peek - come on. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122359379658821047.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Thanks to Staci for the reminder that Ben Stein's movie Expelled is out on DVD, and also for this link - http://www.benstein.com/121805xmas.html to an essay of his which I thoroughly enjoyed. It's just so rare, and so refreshing to hear anyone with any measure of fame be so clear-headed. Paul & I made a point of going to see it in the theater. We loved it. We laughed. We cried. Did I mention it's a documentary? It was worth the price of admission just to see the computer animation of the interior workings of a cell - breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Okay, 'nuf sed. Back to responsiblities.

I've got a lot to accomplish in the next couple of days, so I thought I'd try and fit in all the blogging I've been wanting to do tonight. Mostly I've been wanting to put up some pictures. Paul's been running about merrily with the camera, ever since his dad gave him a giant box of batteries. I've never been one to take a lot of pictures (having never gotten past the old days when photography was expensive every step of the way). I must say, however, that I'm really beginning to enjoy it. Here's our little house. If we walk 15 minutes in the right direction, we end up at the pool at One-Mile. Here's the man that's always making me smile. Here's upper Bidwell Park. Clearly at different times of year, Spring and Summer. Above, left is Bidwell Presbyterian Church. It's beautiful. It's the church Annie Bidwell attended, and still has a big portrait of her in the foyer. (At least they did before the renovation. I can't imagine anyone w...

and we all do (whether or not we collect a paycheck) this is a great, clear-headed, practical article on "vocation", from a Christian perspective. http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001877.cfm (Gina, you may find this helpful, so don't skip past it.)

(In our reading group over at www.challies.com we are nearing the end of Jonathan Edwards’ work Religious Affections. This past week we read through the Eleventh Sign. Below are some excerpts along with a few of my thoughts.) This week’s reading was brief and rather straightforward. Like the previous chapters it was challenging. It was also quite comforting, because it spoke so clearly to that odd tension/hunger that is part and parcel of the Christian life. “Another great and very distinguishing difference between gracious affections and others is, that gracious affections, the higher they are raised, the more is a spiritual appetite and longing of soul after spiritual attainments, increased. On the contrary, false affections rest satisfied in themselves. “The more a true saint loves God with a gracious love, the more he desires to love him, and the more uneasy is he at his want of love to him; the more he hates sin, the more he desires to hate it, and laments that he has so much rema...

This one made me happy. Maybe it will make you smile inside as well. The Orange by Wendy Cope At lunchtime I bought a huge orange The size of it made us all laugh. I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave— They got quarters and I had a half. And that orange it made me so happy, As ordinary things often do Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park This is peace and contentment. It’s new. The rest of the day was quite easy. I did all my jobs on my list And enjoyed them and had some time over. I love you. I’m glad I exist.

It's happening right now in Europe. If we don't fight to defend the sanctity of life, this is what we have to look forward to: Embedded video from CNN Video

well, you know. I've been a very dull girl. Somehow I'm more behind in everything than usual, especially dust, laundry, and vacuuming. It must be the extra couple of hours a week I've put into painting in my kitchen. I've got the cabinets 2/3 finished. When those are done, it's on to the walls. Those should go faster because of rollers and a husband who claims not to mind painting walls. That will be put to the test shortly. And the holidays are on the way. I should probably try to pick up the pace, which may mean less blogging. Schubert's annoying qualities are beginning to outweigh his cute factor - which was minimal to begin with. So I've decided to begin training him. I've discovered he's dramatically smarter than he looks. I knew he could "sit", but I found out, by accident, that he also knows the command "lay down", (but doesn't really like to do it) and thought, that's it, you're not getting away with the stupi...

Ever wonder what to make of Job's fourth friend - the one who spoke up last. Ever notice he was not rebuked along with the rest, either by Job, or by God? Well, John Piper has begun a series on the book of Job, and as usual manages to ask and answer one of those nagging little questions - "what do we do with Elihu?". http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1455_5_Reasons_to_Accept_Elihus_Speech/

"What a man thinks about the most vulnerable among us says everything about him. It will determine all of his other decisions. It’s cowardice on the part of Christians to run away from this because they want to be seen more relevant or less threatening, or whatever the motives may be." - Gianna Jessen, abortion survivor Read more of her thoughts here: http://www.citizenlink.org/content/A000008470.cfm

(In our reading group over at www.challies.com we are nearing the end of Jonathan Edwards’ work Religious Affections. This past week we read through the Ninth and Tenth Signs. Below are some excerpts along with a few of my thoughts.) As we near the end of this reading, and the two months or so of reflection and prayer it has provoked, I feel ready to say with some certainty that I will never be quite the same. I certainly hope I never am. Few books have had the profound effect on my heart as this one has. You see, this book is useful not merely for evaluating whether or not you are, or any one else is, among those who are being saved – though it provides assistance in that regard, as well as great assistance in understanding the phenomena of hypocrisy and apostasy. Even more valuably, it gives tools for evaluating ongoing, day-to-day, religious affections. Even solid Christians experience ungodly affections, or just plain natural affections, which they may confuse with the working...

Ever since becoming a Christian I've developed a love for irony, a fascination of sorts. At the risk of sounding ridiculously philosophical, whenever I see irony it's like I've seen the fingerprint of God. This is especially true with poetic justice, but even the simplest ironies speak to me of the involvement of the Almighty in even what seems like the minutiae of life. Here's an example: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/10/16/disco.song.health.ap/index.html (Yes, I know, nothing but links all week long. I'm lacking imagination and originality, okay.)

Yes, you're at the right blog. It's really me. You may or may not have noticed the (very un-feminine) lack of poetry on my site. That's because my husband got that feminine trait in exchange for the (very masculine) fix-it-now trait, which I got. That said, here's a poem I snagged from my dear husband's site - because it's beautiful in a dozen ways. Holy Sonnets : ( I am a little world made cunningly, by John Donne) I am a little world made cunningly Of elements and an angelic sprite, But black sin hath betray'd to endless night My world's both parts, and oh both parts must die. You which beyond that heaven which was most high Have found new spheres, and of new lands can write, Pour new seas in mine eyes, that so I might Drown my world with my weeping earnestly, Or wash it, if it must be drown'd no more. But oh it must be burnt; alas the fire Of lust and envy have burnt it heretofore, And made it fouler; let their flames retire, And burn me O ...

Read this: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/101208dnmetqueen.39be68a.html Then try to imagine how different her graduating class would be if she had been murdered in the womb, like the 90% or so of people with her genetic anomaly are.

give Al Mohler a listen. Don't count the sanctity of life issue as already dead. It is not: http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=2630

For my friends for whom sanctity of life is still a key issue at election time, I would like to provide this link regarding Obama's stance on these issues: http://thepublicdiscourse.com/viewarticle.php?selectedarticle=2008.10.14_George_Robert_Obama%27s%20Abortion%20Extremism_.xml If I happen across something similar for the other candidate, I'll post that as well. Though it's clear where his running-mate stands, there seems to be less clarity where he's concerned.

Please read this thoughtful little non-partisan (at least not-very partisan) article before you make up your mind: http://www.semicolonblog.com/?p=2691 And remember what you learned in school: our government is run "by the people for the people". We are the government, like it or not. Let's not be derilict in our duty.

the story made it to us via CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/11/iraq.violence/index.html Let us pray for our Iraqi brothers and sisters.

I think it's been since the cat painted the house black that I last posted any bits about life around here. Honestly, there's nothing that interesting to tell. My husband continues to be the kindest, most wonderful man I've ever known - and very patient with me. I've had a nice catching up lunch with Denise (last Friday), complete with promises to attempt to repeat such a thing monthly. I've had my usual cleaning jobs, plus extra time invested in purchasing books, pricing them, putting them online for sale, and shelving them. My dream of doing that exclusively and giving up my day job looks to be at least months away, or may never happen; God knows. I've got one last meeting with the MediCal people to finalize Tony's health coverage. That's been a story in itself, but again, not an interesting one, just the stress from dealing with government agencies. Besides a slight dietary adjustment to reduce her potassium levels, my mom's health, and even her m...

"...anglers must learn to catch fish humanely. Fish can't be kept in aquariums that are transparent on all sides. The fish need some shelter. Nor can goldfish be flushed down a toilet to an inglorious end; they must first be anesthetized with special chemicals, and then killed." Curious? Read the context here: http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=2619

Because I've got athiests on the brain today, and judging by another friend's blog today ( http://couragetotremble.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/hawkings-hopelessness/#comments ) I'm not alone, I thought I'd throw in a quick video link to apologist James White in which he recounts his experience with atheists over the last seven months: http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=2862

(The following is the next installment in my ongoing participation in Reading the Classics Together at http://www.challies.com/ . We are currently reading Jonathan Edward's work Religious Affections.) Truly, one of the clearest signs of conversion is "a new creature". Not to question the goodness and perfection of God in His providence, but if I'd encountered a single pastor, or lay-Christian, during the course of my 40 years of pre-Christian "life"who'd read this book, and read to me the words below (from the Seventh Sign), I may have been spared many years of hypocrisy: "Another thing, wherein gracious affections are distinguished from others, is, that they are attended with a change of nature....'tis the power of a Creator only that can change the nature, or give a new nature.... "Therefore if there be no great and remarkable, abiding change in persons, that think they have experienced a work of conversion, vain are all their imaginati...

Apparently, and contrary to popular belief, being a fundamentalist Christian may just help you with that very thing. Here's a link to a very interesting article from the Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html

I have a three hour job today, then my mom to visit. For now, here's a link to a lovely little article by John Piper written in tribute to his mother. It includes lovely photos of both his parents, which are rather fascinating. It also includes a look a very realistic view of what a "complementarian" marriage looks like. Enjoy: http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1434_My_Mothers_Birthday/

Real quick, it's been a busy couple of days, haven't read a single blog. But here's a link to Paul's devotional: http://possumbane.livejournal.com/423966.html

I've not received any e-mail from our missionaries in Kyrgyzstan yet, but this morning's news tells of a powerful earthquake in that country. I'm sure our prayers are in order. http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/06/kyrgyzstan-quake-kills-70-destroys-120-buildings-2/

Here's the link: http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=2897 It's a short one, but startling.

Many of you will already be familiar with James White, Christian apologist, debator, author, and host of the Dividing Line. He's been an avid promoter of sound Christian doctrine in various circles, among Christians, non-Christians, and the cults. Well, Mr. White has recently begun to turn his attention to what may be most critical and dangerous struggle of our times - Islam. In order to do this, he's undertaken the daunting task of mastering the Arabic language and the Quran. He's begun debating leading Islamic figures. He's being taken note of. He's becoming the target of Islamic ire. I've provided a link from his blog which gives a peek into what his work is beginning to look like. It's not a really easy read (his blog seldom is), but I hope you'll take the time to look it over: http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=2896 As you near the end of the post, his love for these people who are walking in darkness and full of hate, begins to become ve...

And while I've got the state of the world on the brain, here's a link from my friend Nahomi over at www.couragetotremble.wordpress.com . She is a Christian native of India, now living in New Zealand. She has been informing me of the persecution our brothers and sisters in India are experiencing at this time. It would be good to remember them and their nation in our prayers. The link is from a New Zealand paper, and, according to Nahomi, is a fair representation of the situation in India: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10535470

I was glad for the extra week to try to process this chapter. It was long, almost 30 thick, meaty pages. By about half-way through I was beginning to doubt my position in Christ, seeing my own pride described in every page. This is really an intensely realistic and practical look at the nature of true Christian humility, and at pride, and its deceitfulness in the human heart. This chapter holds a bright light and a mirror up to the soul. As I read further I was, thankfully, able to recognize signs of grace in my heart as well, and regained some assurance, and learned some things about spiritual pride, a legalistic spirit, and true humility I hope I never forget. I'm going to let Edwards do most of the talking here since I cannot improve upon him, I really dislike trying to condense his thought, but wouldn't dare post the whole chapter here. My hope is that the sample below get his very important point across, and hopefully will convince any and all to read this great classic fo...