John Piper on Rick Warren and the Desiring God Conference

When I went to the Youtube page to grab the embed code for the Desiring God Trailer that I just posted, I noticed a video on the side that sounded interesting. Watched it. Thought I would pass it along. (Even though I don't think that the Piper Warren thing is a big hullabaloo anymore.)

Think

I always enjoy the Desiring God Conference trailers. By themselves, they teach me. I can't imagine what it would be like to go to the actual conference. Would love to go though. Anyway, here is the trailer, definitely worth a watch.



[HT: Justin Taylor]

English

A few weeks ago I posted this little video of Tim James running for Governor in Alabama.



I can't help but also show you this video of a Tim James parody. My favorite part is when he talks about Starbucks.

Living Faith: In Trials

Last Sunday I tackled James 1:2-4.  I had a cold and was feeling miserable, so I can't vouch for the clarity of the sermon, and I am pretty sure that I drooled on the microphone at least once, but in case you are interested in following along as I tackle the book of James... here is this last week's message:

Living Faith: In Trials

I chose the title "living faith" because I feel like that is the key theme throughout this book.  If I wanted to come up with a cool, hip slogan for this series, it would be "Living your faith... OUT LOUD!"  Then I would have to make t-shirts with this slogan and get everyone at my church to buy one.  The "living your faith" part would have to be in the typewriter font, with the "out loud" scrawled at a slant in a more hand-written font.  In small letters I would have to have "the book of James".  Hmm... I should try this!

Anyway, Live your faith out loud.

my couple of tadpoles

I went out to the church to put add some branches to the burn pile.  While we were there, my boys discovered a pond, teeming with life.  Literally hundreds of tadpoles.  So, I snapped some pics of my little tadpoles looking at those hundreds of tadpoles.

Here is the little church "pond"

They spent the entire 30 minutes that I was there in this same position.

I wish I had a better camera with me.  the colors in this picture were so vibrant.

Click this one to enlarge, so you can see the hundreds of tadpoles in the water.

Being boys, they cannot resist picking up the tadpoles.

Asking him what they felt like, "well... wormy."

Born Again

"We are not born again by repentance or faith or conversion: we repent and believe because we have been born again." 

- John Murray

[HT: Monergism Books]

Ask Paul Tripp!

Ever wanted to ask Paul Tripp a question?  Well, tomorrow, from 7 - 9 pm you will be able to.  Desiring God ministries is hosting the live event on their website.  Read more about it:

Click the picture to go to the site.

To ask a question, just use the hashtag #askpt on Twitter, or email askpt@desiringGod.org.

[HT: Justin Taylor]

The Cross of Christ

As I have mentioned a couple of times already, I am reading through Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray. He is very quotable, so I am always running across little tidbits that I would love to share. Today's is from the chapter called The Crucified One:

Beloved believer! it is a deep mystery, this of the Cross of Christ. I fear there are many Christians who are content to look upon the Cross, with Christ on it dying for their sins, who have little heart for fellowship with the Crucified One. They hardly know that He invites them to it. Or they are content to consider the ordinary afflictions of life, which the children of the world often have as much as they, as their share of Christ's Cross.

They have no conception of what it is to be crucified with Christ, that bearing the cross means likeness to Christ in the principles which animated Him in His path of obedience. The entire surrender of all self-will, the complete denial to the flesh of its every desire and pleasure, the perfect separation of the world in all its ways of thinking and acting, the losing and hating of one's life, the giving up of self and its interests for the sake of others -- this is the disposition which marks him who has taken up Christ's Cross, what seeks to say, "I am crucified with Christ; I abide in Christ, the Crucified One."

Abide in Christ
Abide in Christ as your Righteousness

Desktop Background

This new background came from NASA's image of the day: Earth's Horizon

Google TV!

Where can I get it? Where can I get it?

A Smoggy Day in Old L.A.

Just found this enjoyable video over at 22 Words.

Must-Read Interview

The Guru's Handbook is an excellent teacher's blog that I have been following for quite some time. I am not sure when I first ran across this site, but every time something new is posted, the questions asked always spur me on to deeper thoughts. 


Recently those questions were asked in a more direct fashion.  That's right, blog readers, the must-read interview is an interview of ME!


The great thing about this interview, for me, was that it came right at the beginning of a new school year, at a new school.  I was also jumping back into public education, after having spent the majority of my teaching in Christian schools.  The questions that were posed really helped me to bring some solidity to several different educational/philosophical concepts that were forming in my mind.

All in all, the interview is worth a read, if not for my answers, then for an example of excellent questioning.

Go check it out!  Read the interview here.

Rescued

"and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);"
II Peter 2:7-8 (ESV)

These last few days, these verses have been scrolling through my mind. I know that when most people pull these verses up for some sort of discussion, it is usually to debate the "righteous"ness of Lot. "Was he really righteous?" or "How could he have been righteous considering all that he did?" If people aren't using these verses for debate, they are using them to talk about peer pressure. They want to show how Lot's choice to be around the people of Sodom and Gomorrah was "distressing" and "tormenting" him in such a way that he was experiencing an erosion of morals.

That isn't why I have been thinking of these verses.

The thing about Lot is that most of us make too many assumptions.  I am sure it is possible that he may have had poor, possibly shallow motives for moving into the city, but I'm pretty sure that it doesn't actually say that.        Maybe he just wanted to be a little nearer the local market, maybe there were good schools, maybe he just didn't like living in the country.  He could've wanted to be near things to do and places to go.  Maybe there weren't enough restaurant options ... I mean, how many times can you eat at the Negev Nook anyway?  And their special is always some form of lamb!

The point of this passage is not that Lot was giving into peer pressure, and we need to learn from his mistakes, there might be some lessons there, but there is the bigger truth that God knew how to rescue him!  Listen to the beginning of the next verse:

"then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,"
II Peter 2:9a

In this life, no matter how much I try to keep myself from the things of this world, I have often found myself in situations where I am surrounded by people with conduct that I have found "distressing".  The lack of morality would wear me down day after day.  That is what that first word means in the greek, the word that is translated "distressed" means "to wear down with toil".  From truck driving jobs, being a warehouse worker, and public school teacher, all of them have had their aspects of an ungodly atmosphere.

But God... He knows how to rescue.  

In Lot's case, it was fairly drastic, but God will go to extremes.  Keep reading II Peter, it gets even better!

How dare you?

Just read an amazing D.A. Carson quote over on the Eternal Perspectives blog (Randy Alcorn). It needed to be shared.

How dare you approach the mercy-seat of God on the basis of what kind of day you had, as if that were the basis for our entrance into the presence of the sovereign and holy God? No wonder we cannot beat the Devil. This is works theology. It has nothing to do with grace and the exclusive sufficiency of Christ. Nothing.

Do you not understand that we overcome the accuser on the ground of the blood of Christ? Nothing more, nothing less. That is how we win. It is the only way we win. This is the only ground of our acceptance before God. If you drift far from the cross, you are done. You are defeated.

We overcome the accuser of our brothers and sisters, we overcome our consciences, we overcome our bad tempers, we overcome our defeats, we overcome our lusts, we overcome our fears, we overcome our pettiness on the basis of the blood of the Lamb.

—D.A. Carson, Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 103

Excellent quote.

through the Bible in ... some odd days

Day 5 - Exodus 8 to 18
Day 6 - Exodus 19 to 23
Day 7 - Exodus 24 to 32
Day 8 - Exodus 33 to 40
Day 9 - Leviticus 1 to 7
Day 10 - Skipped
Day 11 - Leviticus 8 to 16

We had a few light days there, and skipped one.  Part of the challenge was the Ladies Bible Study that started last Thursday in our home and the regular stuff of life that is bogging us down.  Hopefully we will be able to get caught back up this week.

Anybody else want to take up this challenge?

New Series

I just started a new series at church.

I wanted to say something about it, to try to get you to download it and listen to it.  Possibly you could even give me some feedback.  That is what I was going to try to do, but I just listened to the beginning of it and realized I said the phrase, "...the Book of James..." 12 times in the first minute of the audio.

So, download it and listen to the first minute so that you can make fun of me.

All sermons are at http://audio.edgewood-danville.org

"For it..."

Don't move on yet, this is worth a moment.

I heard this on the radio this morning while on the way to school.  I only heard the audio this morning, so I had to look it up once I came home.  Sure enough, through the magic of the internet, I found a video on the News Real Blog.  It introduces the video with these words:

David Horowitz gave a talk at UC San Diego to counter the Muslim Students Association’s Israeli Apartheid Week. (Horowitz made a point to properly describe the event as “Hitler Youth” week.) He was literally giving his speech at the same time as notorious anti-Semite Norman Finkelstein.

During the Question and Answer period Horowitz had a chilling exchange with a member of the MSA in which he prodded her to reveal the depraved depths of her Jew-hatred. What’s shocking is not so much that she holds such views, but rather that she was willing to admit it:

Like I said, you have to watch this video.




For a transcript of the video, visit the News Real Blog, linked here.

Abide in Christ as Your Righteousness

More Andrew Murray, from his book Abide in Christ:

(already quoted once)

Believer, abide in Christ as your righteousness. You bear about with you a nature altogether corrupt and vile, ever seeking to rise up and darken your sense of acceptance, and of access to unbroken fellowship with the Father. Nothing can enable you to dwell and walk in the light of God, without even the shadow of a cloud between, but the habitual abiding in Christ as your righteousness. To this you are called. Seek to walk worthy of that calling. Yield yourself to the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the wonderful grace that permits you to draw nigh to God, clothed in a divine righteousness.

Take time to realize that the King's own robe has indeed been put on, and that in it you need not fear entering His presence. It is the token that you are the man whom the King delights to honour. Take time to remember that as much as you need it in the palace, no less do you require it when He sends you forth into the world, where you are the King's messenger and representative.

Live your daily life in the full consciousness of being righteous in God's sight, an object of delight and pleasure in Christ. Connect every view you have of Christ in His other graces with this first one: "Of God He is made to you righteousness."  This will keep you in perfect peace.  Thus shall you enter into, and dwell in, the rest of God.

So shall your inmost being be transformed into being righteous and doing righteousness.  In your heart and life it will become manifest where you dwell; abiding in Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, you will share His position, His character, and His blessedness:  "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with oil of gladness above they fellows."  Joy and gladness above measure will be your portion.

Andrew Murray really has a way with words.  A much better way with words than me, therefore I share his words with you, in the hopes that you will gain something from his wisdom.  If not, maybe you will at least be impressed with my reading of old books and quoting them.  (I do get some "smart points" to rank higher on the "smart list" when I quote smart, eloquent people right?)

I'm Rich!

Thanks to the Global Rich List, I just found out that I am in the top 4.62% of the richest people in the world!

[HT: Rick Boyne]

Good Advertising

The swagger wagon!



I don't own one of these mini-vans, yet this video still reminds me of my wife and myself.

Taco Bell Folk Song

IT is making me hungry for Taco Bell!



[HT: the school news today]

Look at me!

Television is there for your good.


Television is a drug. from Beth Fulton on Vimeo.

[HT: 22 words]

Words that Edify

I admit it.  I love finding little notes like this on my lectern.

They make me feel unpointless.
 

a minor accomplishment with a fizzle

I have preached through my first sermon series.  I completed the entire Sermon on the Mount as it is in Matthew 5 to Matthew 7.  I have said more than once, while at church, "If I get nothing else from my time as being a pastor... if I quit right now and didn't preach again, the things I have learned preaching through this amazing sermon are priceless to me."  And I mean that.  I blogged my way, verse by verse, a few years ago, but preaching through it changed everything.

So, as I approached the end of this series it was feeling like a bang, but when the day finally came it felt like a fizzle.  My brain felt scattered, the main point felt misconstrued, the message was simply missed.  I won't go into detail, but I just wish I could go back and re-do that message.  The sad thing is that it was such a simple portion of scripture with such a distinct, easy to find application.

What got in the way?  My pride?  My laziness?  A momentary loss of brain functionality?  I don't know.  I just know it felt like a fizzle.

I did have one person come up to me afterwards to ask about the message.  Something from that passage had pin-pricked them, and they wanted to talk about it.  This person waited  until everyone else had left the church  just so they could talk to me.  It was my oldest son.  That was a bang for me and it warmed my heart.

Preaching isn't the only thing that I am supposed to do as a pastor, but I am not going to turn this post into an explanation of the pastoral role.  If I did that I would have to go into all of the multitude of fizzles that I have done in all of the other areas of my pastoral role. I simply wanted to point out that I fizzled this Sunday preaching and that is a little depressing.

There you go.

The Bible in 90 Days (day 3 and day 4)

Day 3 we read Genesis 31 to 46.

Day 4 we read Genesis 47 to Exodus 7.

All I have to say is, the Bible is an amazing book with some amazing stories.  It doesn't picture the people we would consider to be the "saints of old" in a pretty light, but they are definitely portrayed in the light.  Their deeds are not hidden to make them out to be anything but normal.  It gives me hope and reminds me that it is truly by faith and not by works that we are justified!

Bible in 90 days (day two)

Day two passage: Genesis 15-30

Last night's reading took a little over an hour.  I think that we paused in the middle for something, but that still isn't all that long.

In last night's reading my wife pointed out something interesting.  We were reading in chapter 17 and just finished this passage:

And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.  I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her.  I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her."   

Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old?  Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"  And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!"   

God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac.  I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.  As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly.  He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.  But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year."

At this point my wife interrupted and made an interesting observation.  She said something like, "How is it that when other people, like Moses, see God, they are trembling and falling on their face in fear, but here Abraham has the audacity to laugh after God makes this pronouncement.  He fell on his face and laughed.

Interesting.

My first observation was that it doesn't seem that Abraham is actually laughing at God, it is more at the thought of these two old people having a baby.  He finds it to be exceptionally funny.  Second, I noticed that God doesn't reprimand Abraham for laughing.  Did God laugh with him?  I don't know, it doesn't say.  Notice that Abraham simply goes on to try to recommend Ishmael, as in, "You don't have to do that, Ishmael is already born, he's a good kid, just let it be him!"   But God says, "No, that isn't what I am going to do."

I don't have any great, insightful applications of this passage.  I just found it interesting.  It gave me a snapshot of God; of how He interacted with this man Abraham.

This coming Sunday...

I have been trying to send out a weekly e-mail update to the members of my church. I was really faithful with it last fall, but then things got busy and this was one of those things that fell off the back burner and onto the floor behind the stove.

Last week I picked it back up, brushed off the crumbs, and sent out an update. I am a little late in the week, but I just posted the one for this week. Here it is, just in case you were curious:

This coming Sunday we will be looking at the parable found at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. It is really the story of two different home-builders. As far as can be told from this story, the houses of are equal quality and construction, but the beginnings of these houses, the foundations, are different. One is built on solid bedrock, while the other is built on sand. Most likely we have all heard this story or at least we might remember singing this while in Sunday School as a child. I wonder though, does the song match the story? What is the rock? What is the sand?

Don't forget, as well, that this is the final application in this amazing message which was preached by Jesus. It is not a stand-alone story, nor is it simply tacked onto the end for dramatic affect. This parable is perfectly fitted to this particular sermon and we must not detach it when we study it, and we must definitely not treat it as a simple children's church story: it is for all of us.

I encourage you again to spend some time praying that God will be present in our church this Sunday. Pray that God will bring to our building all that need to be there. Pray that we will be ready to serve and administer God's grace to all that walk in our doors.

See you all soon.

Matt

If you don't go to our church, but had any spare space in your prayer time, I know a group of believers that could use the encouragement. Our whole town is struggling. It was in a recession before the recession. What we need most though, is not a booming big business to decide to build here, we need Jesus. We need His grace in our lives. This town is full of people who are desperate for Him and don't even realize it. So, here is a petition that I have for you, I will put it in bold letters so that you won't miss it:

pray for Edgewood

pray for Danville

12-year old with Asperger's interview's his mom.

Found this over at the 22 words blog, by Abraham Piper. (Which it seems like nearly half of my shared posts have come from that blog lately, but he just keeps finding stuff I really like to share!)

Q&A from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

Contermporvant!

Love it!

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

[HT: The Gospel Coalition]

The Bible in 90 Days?!?

The other day I ran across a blog titled My Brain Doodles.  The author of this blog was talking about reading through the Bible in 90 days.  I thought, "Wow, that sounds interesting."  The thought stuck with me throughout the day, so I told my wife about it when I got home.

She thought it sounded interesting too, so last night we started reading through the Bible in 90 days.  (I am going public with this little announcement because it adds to the accountability, right?  I mean, if I post this to my blog won't it give me the extra energies to undertake such a challenge?)  We read through the first 14 chapters of Genesis last night, I read seven and she read seven.  My youngest son sat with us through the majority of the reading.  It took approximately 50 minutes to accomplish this task, and I felt like it was a much better spent 50 minutes than the TV series on DVD viewing that I originally had planned.

Click to go to the site.

This morning, when I decided to post something on my blog about this little challenge, I went searching for that blog that I ran across.  Once I found it, I realized that this person was talking about this challenge as if it was something official.  Sure enough, I searched for it, found the website.  Through the Bible in 90 days is a special Bible and a curriculum.   They also have a leader's kit and several other resources to assist small groups.  I am still doing a little research, but I am wondering if this might make an awesome summer event for our church (or anyone else in our little community that might be interested).

I will try to let you know what I learn and how it goes.  If anyone else has done this, let me know what you thought.

Do you know your colors?

I have this poster up in my room...

Say the name of the color of ink used for each word.  Don't read the words, simply say the name of the colors.

Say them as fast as you can.

Abide in Christ

(Picture borrowed from Wikipedia)

I am reading through Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray.  I was introduced to Andrew Murray a few months ago through his book on prayer.  He was a "South African writer, teacher and Christian pastor.  You can read a little of Andrew Murray over at Wikipedia.

There were powerful, passionate words in that book on prayer that stirred in me a desire for even more prayer.  So when my wife brought home a box of books (which is possibly one of my most favorite things to happen!) I was excited to see a book by Andrew Murray.

The book is about abiding in Christ.  I won't attempt to summarize, his words are too good, but I will include a quote from "day three" in the book.

Abide in me:  These words are no law of Moses, demanding from the sinful what they cannot perform.  They are the command of love, which is ever only a promise in a different shape.  Think of this until all feeling of burden and fear and despair pass away, and the first thought that comes as you hear of abiding in Jesus be one of bright and joyous hope:  it is for me, I know I shall enjoy it.  You are not under the law, with it's inexorable Do, but under grace, with it blessed Believe what Christ will do for you.  And if the question be asked, "but surely there is something for us to do?"  the answer is, "our doing and working are but the fruit of Christ's work in us."  It is when the soul becomes utterly passive, looking and resting on what Chris is to do, that its energies are stirred to their highest activity, and that we work most effectually because we know that He works in us.  It is as we see in that word IN ME the mighty energies of love reaching out after us to have us and to hold us, that all the strength of our will is roused to abide in Him.

So, there you go.  Just a taste of Andrew Murray and his powerful, passionate way with words.  The thing that I love about reading his stuff, along with many of the writers from days gone by, is that nearly every page, every paragraph contains a quotable text.  How do they do that?

The Defining Factor

At church, I have been preaching through the Sermon on the Mount.  I started sometime last July, and I am just now in the final few verses of this amazing sermon.

This last week I looked at a "hard saying", as some might call it and I preached it.  I didn't go to several other passages to soften it or explain it in a certain light, I just preached what Jesus preached.  The section that I am referring to comes from Matthew 7:21-23.  In this passage, Jesus states plainly, "It doesn't matter if you call me Lord, if you do the Father's will.  In fact, if you don't do the Father's will, you won't go to heaven."  (Obviously this is my own paraphrase of His statements.  If you thought that was harsh, you should read the original!)

Well, if anyone is interested in hearing some Harmless Thoughts on this passage, right click here to download the message.  Print off some notes here.

Notes from the Underground (Review)

I just finished listening to Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky through the ChristianAudio Reviewers Program.

I have heard the name Fyodor Dostoevsky before.  I know that his works would be considered classic, I believe that I even have one of his books sitting on my shelf at home.  Being a lover of all things classic, I snatched up this opportunity immediately.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this Fyodor guy, so before I started listening I did a little research.  That turned out to be a better idea than I realized because the book is a little bit confusing, especially without a little foreknowledge.  If you are thinking about listening, then I will save you a little research time:  The book is composed of two main sections.  The first half is a composition of fictional "notes" that are laying out the philosophy of the unnamed "Underground Man".  The second half of the book displays these philosophies played out in this man's life.

As far as my experience with this book goes, I have to first point out that I loved the narrator.  He did an amazing job.  I felt as if I was actually listening to the character from the book.  This added to my experience and understanding of this book.

Secondly, I am not even going to attempt to describe the proper sociological and psychological aspects of this fictional man or the author's points that he is attempting to get across.  Instead, I feel the need to point out that  this felt like an insight into what my soul could have been without the saving grace if God.  Allow me to add a quote from the end of the book that might shed some light.

I believe I made a mistake in beginning to write them (the notes), anyway I have felt ashamed al lthe time I've been writing this story; so it's hardly literature so much as corrective punishment.  Why, to tell long stories, showing how I have spoiled my life through morally rotting in my corner, through lack of fitting environment, through divorce from real life, and rankling spite in my underground world, would certainly not be interesting; a novel needs a hero, and all the traits for an anti-here are EXPRESSLY gathered together here, and what matters most, it all produces an unpleasant impression, for we are all divorced from life, we are all cripples, every one of us, more or less.

(Read more on Google Books)

There is an insight in this guy's writing, but it is a chapter 1 sort of insight.  It is the insight that comes without the rest of the story.  The insight that is attained by looking within, looking a little without, but not looking to the God of the universe.

I believe that most classic works are worth a read ( or they wouldn't be classics, I suppose), and this one isn't an exception.  I would highly recommend using the Christian Audio version, I don't think I could have actually read through the entire thing.

What if Arizona were Quebec?

Here is an interesting perspective from the American Thinker (with an article by Michael Filozof):

Suppose for a moment that 15 million Americans -- the population of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut combined -- sneaked across the border into Quebec. Suppose that these illegal immigrants refused to learn to speak French, that they applied for Canadian welfare, that they reproduced at a rate higher than Quebec's residents, and that they bankrupted Canada's socialized medical system. Suppose that they sent their children to Canadian schools in such large numbers that Quebec's school system had to teach "French as a Second Language" courses.

Suppose that the 15 million illegal American aliens included large numbers of criminals, drug dealers from Vermont, and arms traffickers, causing Quebec's crime rate to soar; that they comprised 20% to 30% of Quebec's prison inmates; and that they routinely evaded capture by Canadian authorities by sneaking back across the border, where they engaged in gang warfare.

Suppose that the illegal Americans congregated in packs on Montreal street corners, looking for day labor for which they did not pay taxes, and drove through the streets of Quebec without driver's licenses or motor vehicle insurance. Suppose that the illegals marched openly in the streets of Montreal, waving the Stars and Stripes, celebrating the Fourth of July, and demanding amnesty. Suppose that illegal American college students formed radical pro-U.S. organizations on Quebec's campuses and demanded resident tuition discounts and affirmative-action preferences.

Let us further suppose that when the Montreal Canadiens played the Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre, large numbers of illegal Americans waved the American flag, booed, hissed, and doused Canadiens fans with beer when "O, Canada" was sung in French prior to the opening face-off.

How do you suppose Canada would react? Would Quebec City and Laval declare themselves "sanctuary cities" and refuse to cooperate with federal authorities seeking to deport the illegal Americans? Would Quebec offer driver's licenses to the illegals? Would the province refuse to ask voters for identification and proof of citizenship?

If Quebec's provincial parliament passed a law allowing the police to demand proof of citizenship from suspected illegals, would the Prime Minister call it "misguided"? Would the Bishop of Montreal accuse the province of "Nazism"? Would residents of Calgary and Winnipeg call for a boycott of Quebec? Do you suppose the federal parliament in Ottawa would propose legislation to grant citizenship to the illegals (thereby allowing them to sponsor the emigration to Canada of their relatives back in the Unites States)?

Of course not. Anyone remotely familiar with Canadian politics knows exactly what would happen. A situation like the one described above would cause the province to explode.

(read the rest here)

[somebody had this posted on facebook, and I thought I would share...]

Page CXVI / Hymns

Page CXVI / Hymns

Just heard about this site through Tim Challies. On the front page it says, "Page CXVI is a project started with the idea of making hymns accessible and known again. They are some of the richest, most meaningful, and moving pieces of music ever written."

Their first album is available for download for free (from what I can tell, only this week).

For my boys...

Three boys were bragging about the perks of their fathers’ professions.

First boy says, “My dad’s a professor. I’m gonna be college-educated for nothing.”

Second boy says, “Whatever, dude. My dad’s a doctor. I’m gonna be healthy for nothing.”

Last boy looks at them both, and says, “Yeah? Well, my dad’s a pastor. I’m gonna be good for nothing.


[HT: Abraham Piper (John Piper's Son)]

English Only...

[HT: 22words]

The Next Great Drama!

[HT: 22words]

New Records!

My blog has broken two old records. (For a person who hasn't completely abandoned blogging for the one-liner updates of facebook and the quick little pithy statements of twitter... this was slightly exciting.)

New record number of visits for one month: 1508

New record number of unique visitors in one month:  1304

Not overly exciting, but a little bit exciting for a dedicated blogger.