tough week?

Been having a tough week?

Has it been difficult, challenging... hard?

Could it be described as a "crap-shoot"?

The best thing for you this weekend is not fishing, camping, or vacationing. You will not find what you need by partying, playing games, drinking, having sex, hanging out with friends, running that 5k, or even taking that extra nap.

Many of these things are good, and can and should be enjoyed in the right context... but you will not find in any of these the thing you need the most after your difficult week.

Instead, go to a church this weekend that will preach to you the good news of Jesus Christ: the truth that you can enjoy absolute rightness with God through the work of Jesus.

Go to a church to hear the gospel preached... not because you don't know it, but because you are prone to forget it and need to hear it again and again. You will have no real joy in your life until you enjoy the righteousness of God through the knowledge of Jesus.

When I Don't Desire God by John Piper - Book Review

Here is my review of When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy by John Piper and read by David Cochran Heath.

I have made no secret of the fact that the last few months of my life I have battled a certain melancholy spirit like I never have before. This hasn't been the most trial-fraught time of my life by any means, but this dark cloud has followed me at all times and has shadowed all I have done. I have clung to Jesus, but sometimes it has felt like: just barely. So, it was a very providential moment when I rediscovered that I already had the audio version of this book, and it was just waiting to be listened to.

As many people know, John Piper's flagship book is Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. That is a fabulous book, but I have found that, like many others, I don't need convincing that I should desire God as the greatest good. Instead, I find in myself that as much as I know this is true, I don't always feel it. Is there something wrong with me? Am I doing something wrong that I wouldn't spontaneously burst into overflowing admiration for the Creator of the Universe? Why is it that as I seek to pursue obedience to the God who, in love, has redeemed me through great sacrifice, that I am not filled with joy in my pursuit? In other words, "What do I do when I don't desire God?" The answer to that question is found in this book: Fight for Joy.

As with all of John Piper's books, this book is filled with Scripture. It is not only Biblically based, it is Biblically guided and thoroughly Biblical in its final assessment. It is laid out in clear terms how one is to Fight for Joy... a Joy that is truly a gift from God, not something that is earned. This is an encouraging book, filled not only with Biblical examples of those who needed to fight for joy, but also with a plethora of historical examples. So many of these examples were of saints that I had placed on a higher spiritual plateau, but after hearing of their struggles I find a welling up of hope in my heart.

This version was read by David Cochran Heath and produced by Christian Audio. If you aren't much of a reader, I would encourage you to check out an audio book sometime. This one would be a great one to start with!

twenty years

I have been married for twenty years... today.

There are so many things that I could blog about in regards to this anniversary. I want to say wonderful things about my wife... the wife of my youth. I could write of her beauty or her strength. I could tell you of the wonderful wife and mother that she is and continues to be and to excel at. I would be happy to wax eloquent of her great love for me and my great love for her. I would speak amiss if I failed to mention her spiritual depth and insight, especially as it pertains to her amazing ability to see through things and find the truth that is buried deep in the human heart: She is truly the best Biblical Counselor I know. If I told you of all of these things... I would only be scratching the surface of this multi-faceted woman that I am married to.

I could also tell you of our time together. Twenty years is not a short amount of time, you know. I could discuss the good days and the difficult days or the ups and downs of a real marriage. We are both sinners, but we said, "I do." and we meant it. As much as I absolutely love being married to my wife, we have been through some hard times: situations that have crumbled better marriages than ours, or so we thought.

I could tell you stories. The funniest, happiest, silliest, most ridiculous, most exciting, and most beautiful memories that I have are all associated with this one woman. I could tell you things that might crack you up or bring tears to your eyes, whether they be tears of joy or of sadness. I could share with you the places we've lived, the experiences we've had, and the challenges we've faced. We have parenting stories, traveling stories, job stories, stories of poverty, and stories of... well... more poverty.  We have seen sickness, sadness, and death, and we have seen these things together, in a true partnership in life.

O sure, there is much I could tell you... but there is really only one thing that I need to tell you, and it is this:
God  Is  Good.

My wife has been, and I am convinced will continue to be, a good gift from God, and I want to thank Him publicly for blessing me with this wonderful wife and granting me these twenty years.

Withdrawal - Day Two

Today is day two of no energy drinks... I have been filling up my big cup with ice water at the beginning of the day. The headaches aren't too bad... no blurred vision... I haven't attacked anyone... that I can remember... the water is actually tasting good.

If I get the shakes... I will let you know.

withdrawal

Today is the day...

Today is the day that I will stop drinking energy drinks.

I know that they probably aren't the best thing to drink. I have known this for a long time... but then I read the back of the can... and realized that I might have been overdosing on energy drinks for the last several months.

I am fairly certain that I will be going through withdrawal.

I will give you updates ...

New Cards

Here are a few new cards that I have doodled. Most of these happened in the last couple of weeks. The rocket ship one says, "... to the moon." on the inside. The one that says, "You're Beautiful... " says, "... to all eyes." on the inside. I also think that I am going to add, "Let's put down some roots." on the front of the card with the tree, that currently doesn't say anything. 

click to enlarge

I have also been making some mini-cards. They might work well for gift cards...

Well... now you know what I do when I am watching TV.

If you like any of these, they will soon be available for purchase at my mom's shop, The Weaver's Daughter, in Covington, IN.

The good life...

When you hear the phrase, 

"Living the good life..." 

What do you think of?