Thursday, March 30, 2006

Now Even Cats Can Be Terrorists

Reports in the Connecticut Post Online, A ferocious feline terrorized a quiet Fairfield neighborhood, to the point that residents are seeking help from the law to stop the so-called "Terrorist of Sunset Circle." Lewis, a 5-year-old, black-and-white long haired cat, attacked at least a half-dozen people on the cul-de-sac and even took on the local Avon lady, neighbors say. "He looks like Felix the Cat and has six toes on each foot each with a long claw," Sunset Circle resident Janet Kettman said. "They are formidable weapons." I always knew there was a reason I didn't trust cats. To read the whole story you can find it here. This link will work for 14 days, after that you will have to search for it using their search engine.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Abdul Rahman

With the charges dropped by the court in Afghanistan because of lack of evidence and a belief that Rahman is not mentally competent, he has been freed. However, the story is not over. Apparently the Parliament of Afghanistan is now saying that he should not be allowed to leave the country even though he has been offered asylum in Italy.

Eagle Nest

Tim Challies posted this link on his blog, and I found it rather amazing. I have always considered Eagles to be beautiful birds, and to be able to watch a streaming video feed of an Eagles nest is fascinating. Check out Eagles Nest Video.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Very Interesting Post

Yet another thing that points out that the origin of all things cannot be explained without a creator.

It Seem People Really Don't Know

As I was going through the various news stories found at the Pearcey Report I went to read this article. The article recounts the fact that the St. Paul City Hall removed a toy rabbit, pastel-colored eggs and a sign with the words "Happy Easter" from their lobby. The concern that prompted this was that they thought they might offend non-Christians. It seems that they are under the misapprenhension that Easter is about some rabbit and coloured eggs. I guess that is why Christians have celebrated it for the last 2000 years. The only person there who may realize this has nothing to do with Easter is Council Member Dave Thune who wondered, 'why they can't celebrate spring with "bunnies and fake grass."' Ok strike that, he seems to be under the impressiong that Easter is a celebration of spring. Frankly, I am offended by the rabbit and eggs because I am a Christian. That is not what Easter is all about, and to think otherwise is complete ignorance. Easter is about one thing only, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead showing his victory over sin and death for all who believe in him. The last thing I want is for the world to co-opt Easter like they have Christmas. Perhaps it is time to have real Easter decorations (and Good Friday ones for that matter). How about an empty tomb decoration? Anyone have other ideas how to fight against this trend to make all the Christian faith into excuses to buy chocolate and tacky decorations that have nothing to do with what is actually be celebrated, or good ideas for real Easter decorations?

Two More Sermons

Here are two new additions to the streaming sermons. How To Worship The One God Do Not Take God's Name Lightly I actually don't know how well these are streaming, so if you have any problems comment about it so I can try to fix it.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

HE IS HOME

We just received a call from Annette's father, and he is home! Yes, we are surprised by this, at least I am! They talked to a health care professional (Annette doesn't remember what the person actually is) and they said Justin should not come up until after he has finished his current medication (For more information on that go to here to find out more) so Annette will not be going up to help until Monday. Thank-you again for all your prayers.

What's New With My Father In Law

I realized it has been a while since I have given an update here. His recovery is going well. He is able to walk down the hall and back in the hospital with a walker for support, and his blood is looking pretty good. They took the filter out of the vein in his leg, and so far he has had no clots. If they can get his blood to the correct thinness for two days in a row then he will be able to go home. His blood was at the correct level on Monday, and we hoped he could go home on Tuesday. Yet, by Tuesday it was not at the correct level. I am not sure on this, but as I understand it if his blood were at the correct level today, he would need to maintain that for tomorrow before they would let him go home. We are still hoping he will get home this week, but if not it will hopefully be soon. With that in mind I want to thank you all for your prayers. Through all this God has made his grace known, and shown that it is sufficient for our needs. That is a great thing to learn.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Persecution For The Name of Christ

The news broke in the last couple of days about a Christian in Afghanistan who faces execution for converting to Christianity. For more information you can look at Michelle Malkin's Site or check out Al Mohler's blog On section in the report that caught my attention was this one, "The judge, however, holds hopes for a solution. "We will ask him if he has changed his mind about being a Christian," Mawlazezadah says. "If he has, we will forgive him, because Islam is a religion of tolerance."" Emphasis mine. This quote shows something important about Islam and it's view of tolerance, and it is not something that should set our hearts at ease. Pray that God will work in this situation, so that he is glorified either in the release of one of his saints or if that is not his will, that he would use this to bring others to Christ.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Faith and Emotions

Read this on Wittenberg Gate today. This is something that I have strived to get into the minds of the younger people of the congregation I minister to. They has such a feelings based approach to faith, that when the feelings are not there with the same fervor as they were before, they wonder if they still have faith. When I read this, I thought that it said what I have been trying to say very well.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

NEW SERMON ONLINE

It has been a while since I have added a sermon to the streaming audio sermons. What can I say, I have been busy. Today I added the next in the series on the 10 Commandments looking at the first commandment. You can listen to it by clicking No Other Gods

Saturday, March 11, 2006

HOW CAN THIS BE

I was reading on Riddleblog today and found this post rather disturbing. How a person can be a pastor and not know the answers to these questions is problematic at best. I understand that the questions are filled with Christian terminology, and I wouldn't expect many members in the church to necessarily be able to understand them or give a correct answer. But, pastors should know this. It is part of their job to know this. If I went to an engineer and they didn't know about material strengths and the like, I would probably go find another engineer. If I went to a doctor and he didn't know about the human body, I would probably go find another doctor. But, for a minister who deals with eternal life, I guess people don't care if they know what scripture teaches.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Feeling better, but not completely

Last night was my first good night of sleep since getting sick on Friday. I slept the entire night, didn't have to kick the sheets off the bed because I was too hot, or put an extra comforter on later because I was too cold. I woke up in the same spot that I fell asleep, and I feel much better than yesterday. I am not 100%, but when I went down for breakfast, the idea of bacon and eggs actually sounded, looked and smelled good to me. Up to this morning any meat at all would turn my stomach, and all I could really eat without upsetting my stomach was toast and chicken broth. This morning I could enjoy a real breakfast, so I figure the worst is past. Good thing because it looks to be a busy week. We have a combined service of prayer for crops and industry with the local CRC congregation on Wednesday where I will be preaching. I have a video of our church worship service to edit for broadcast, and I have my regular pastoral tasks as well. I'm glad this didn't last as long as it did with my wife, but it would have been much preferable to not have it at all :)

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Sick

If you look at the time stamp of this one you might wonder why I am even up. Well, I am sick. Headache, stomach ache, fever, chills, even my hair hurts. I slept for a while, but then go so uncomfortable that I thought I would see if sitting up feels better. It doesn't, but it was worth a try. My wife had the same thing a week or so back--now I know what she went through. Hopefully Justin won't catch this one as it is very uncomfortable. That about does it, I just wanted to share my discomfort with everyone who reads this :) Now I am going to see if lying down helps. Maybe I will sleep. That would be good I think.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Surgery Went Well

We just heard from Annette's mom that her dad came through the surgery very well. To prevent any blood clots that may form for going to his lungs they have placed a temporary filter in the large vein in his leg. He is currently in recovery, and will then be moved to ICU. The concerns are how his blood will do, and will have to monitor it. He was put right back on the heparin after the surgery.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Another Change

They have rescheduled my father-in-laws surgery again. Now it will be on Thursday at 9:00am. They have the OR booked, and the bed in ICU booked. For now they are keeping him in a segregated room to avoid him getting any infections. Hopefully this will be the last change.