March 2008 - Posts
Another week gone, and another series of posts handed over in
triplicate to the folks at iron mountain to be hauled via armored car
to the hillside bunker for safe keeping.
1. Friday is for photos. Here is a picture of L in our bathroom selecting some reading material. Boy does she love to read!
2. This photo was taken at an old hotel in town. I liked the look of the sign so I snapped a pic. I want to take some time off one day and just go around town taking pictures of cool signs.
3. Want
to see your photo published here? Submit all family friendly photos to
bjnotbk@gmail.com for consideration. Please note that I reserve the
right to publish or not publish any submission.
4. Congratulations to Wesley...I mean Dr. Wesley as he successfully defended his dissertation for his Doctorate. The staff here are bjnotbk will hold an honorary luncheon in the cafeteria on Tuesday for anyone wishing to attend.
5. March Sadness - My U.T. Vols got destroyed last night by the Cardinals. I stayed up to watch the first half, the game began at 9:58, only to go to bed knowing that defeat was in the future. Congratulations to the team and to Bruce for a great season! As M always puts it...."there is always next year."
6. March Gladness - the weather has been insane here this week! Monday it snowed and yesterday it got into the seventies and no I don't mean John Travolta in a white jumpsuit with the Bee Gees blasting in the background. I am happy to see everything blooming right now. Everything is greening up, the white and red buds our popping out everywhere, I will have to try and take some pictures, and everyone is planting flowers.
7. The annual bjnotbk / napalm backcountry trip has been planned. Where to this year you ask? Fiji, Bora Bora, the Himalaya's, the rain forest? Na, too we decided to do something a little more challenging...more to come in the weeks ahead after we secure the team of Sherpas, and order supplies.
8. What are you reading? My wife keeps giving me these funny looks each time I bring home a new book. I have tried to explain to her my complex yet organized reading method to no avail. I would share it with you but there is not enough space on the net for such a voluminous work. Plus you don't care.
9. What are you listening to? Me, I will put myself out there and let you know I am a renegade of funk.
10. Weekend plans anyone? I know we are going to a family dinner tonight and then tomorrow Grandma and :0)} are coming over to watch the kids for us so that M and I can go out for a bit. Ahhhhh, me and mommy time.
Thanks everyone for reading bjnotbk this week. My prayer is that
you will be entertained and encouraged or challenged each time you stop
by. I am also praying for you, my readers, that is, so be encouraged
in knowing that no matter what someone, somewhere is praying for you.
Now go read your Bible, love your family, lover your neighbor, get
outside, and love Jesus!
If you know me, you know my intense passion for the Olympics. I love the lighting of the torch, the pageantry of opening day ceremonies, the gathering together of many nations under the banner of competition. I love the fact that for the most part The United States crushes everyone but I digress....
08.08.2008 marks the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in China and for the first time in a very long time I will not watch. No coverage, no clips, no highlights period.
Why? How can we participate and how can we play games in a country who has a long standing history of human rights abuse? Put aside the recent Tibet issue if you will, put aside the whole house church story and read the recent excerpt from an email a missionary couple sent me this morning....this is real, this is China,
"We want you to help us lift up our new sister, Jane Doe. A
few days ago she told us that she is pregnant with her third child. There
is an enforced rule in China:
One child only. Having more than one child is a punishable offense.
When the Doe family decided to have their second child, Little
Jane Doe, they were given an overwhelming fine of 100,000 yuan
($15,000 USD). That is about the amount of money they make in five years. They
had to sell their apartment and car, and they still, three years
later, have some to pay. When Jane Doe was pregnant with Little Jane Doe,
she was visited several times by the police in an attempt to coerce her into terminating
the pregnancy. If she keeps this child, the fine would likely be the same,
but the coercion tactics could be more severe. Adoption of this child into
another family is also not permissible, as adoption is for children already
living in Chinese orphanages.
Now the Doe family is faced with a daunting decision. Jane
Doe wants to do what is right, but is overwhelmed with the thought of what she
would put her family through to have her third child. We are simply asking that
you take some serious time to ask Father for guidance for Jane Doe, and
for a miracle. Think about what you would do if you had to face this
dilemma.
We are trying to balance helping Jane Doe know what is
right, and know about Father's unfailing love and forgiveness. It is very
difficult for everyone. Thank you for your thoughts."
Please pray for this woman in this time of crisis. Please pray for China and please do not watch the Olympics this year.
1116, no, it's not the number of times I have misspelled allot, nor is it the number of Chinese restaurants in the city here (7423,236 is the actual number of Chinese Restaurants in the city, 18 per every man, boy, child), nor is it the number of the winning lottery ticket.
1116 is the number of proteins in your spit [link], unless you chew redman then it jumps to 1117.
Another week gone, and another series of posts handed over in
triplicate to the folks at iron mountain to be hauled via armored car
to the hillside bunker for safe keeping.
1.
Friday is for photos: This first one comes to you courtesy of last year's Napalm/bjnotbk annual camping trip. Our campsite was right on the other side of the bridge. For some reason all I could think about all night was using the restroom?
2. This one comes to you courtesy of the Gap. L has signed a two year endorsement deal with the Gap, baby Gap, kids Gap, and Old Navy.
Notice the plush green lawn to her right? Be on the lookout for a future post next week.
3. And finally, this picture comes to you courtesy of Easter Sunday 2006 A.D. B.B.B., before baby boy.
4.
Want
to see your photo published here? Submit all family friendly photos to
bjnotbk@gmail.com for consideration. Please note that I reserve the
right to publish or not publish any submission.
5. Only one week left in the bjnotbk photo contest. All submissions will be accepted up until April 1st so don't delay.
6. What are you reading? I am still going through the Piper book, almost finished with the Acts or as Uncle Jesse would say the Axs of the Apostles, and a couple of other side reading projects.
7. What are you listening to? This week I am going for silence. Ahh, peace and quiet.
While I am in my own self induced Nirvana of quiet I want to send this Jack Johnson clip out to my lovely wife, my "Angel". Please note..for the record I do not know Colinda and while I love her in a Jesus way, I do not love her as M is my only love.
8. Ok, so we didn't get the swing set put together like I had hoped to last week but we did get this beauty installed.
9. Does anyone grind their own coffee beans? What is your favorite flavor or brand? Me? I love eating spoonfuls of Sanka, no water, no filter, just yummy, crunchy, black specks in the teeth goodness.
10. What are your plans for Easter? I know, I know, Easter is a pagan holiday adopted by the bla bla bla bla bla. I am worshiping Jesus on resurrection Sunday with my family, remembering His life, death, and resurrection and celebrating that fact the Jesus is alive today!
Thanks everyone for reading bjnotbk this week. My prayer is that
you will be entertained and encouraged or challenged each time you stop
by. I am also praying for you, my readers, that is, so be encouraged
in knowing that no matter what someone, somewhere is praying for you.
Now go read your Bible, love your family, lover your neighbor, get
outside, and love Jesus!
We are in the grips of economic disaster and gloom. I sat down this morning and looked over the books at bjnotbk and for the fourth quarter in a row we have grown 12.5% and even though such robust growth in the midst of a recession is unheard of many investors and analysts were not impressed, calling bjnotbk a luxury not a necessity!
My commitment to you as founder and CEO of bjnotbk is to continue to bring forth sarcastic, hard hitting posts, Ansel Adams quality photography of church steeples and my family, and theologically sound Bible studies that exalt Christ, nothing less.
I would ask that you sacrifice other items, other "affordable luxuries' such as Starbucks [link] before you walk away.
I myself have cut my Starbucks down from 8 cups a day to 7.5, funny how I feel much calmer?
Ahhh peppermint mocha, here I come.
After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but twhat are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten."
Many
people are following after this person named Jesus. He is the latest
thing, the hottest ticket in town and everyone is talking about Him but
not in a God way, only in a "have you heard" kinda way. Jesus has been
preaching and teaching everywhere He goes around talking about the
Kingdom of God and the need to repent of sins and to be born again (see
John 3:16) but the crowds don't care about that. They have come to be
served, to be entertained, to have their needs met and now the crowds
gather to Jesus not because they believe He is the messiah but because
of the buzz He has caused and the healing He has brought to the sick
(vs 2).
This historical event is a familiar one. Jesus sees the
crowds, asks Phillip where could they buy enough food to feed the
people only to hear Phillip give an accounting of how much money they
don't have and the impossibility of ministering to such a body of
people. A young boy willingly gives Jesus all he has, 2 fish and 5
loaves. Jesus prays, gives thanks to God and through a supernatural
miracle feeds 10,000 plus people with enough leftovers to fill 12
baskets. The people were filled (vs 12) with food, the gorged
themselves, had as much as they wanted at the all you can eat fish and
bread buffet and were satisfied.
"So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus."
Fat,
dumb, and happy the crowds forget all about Jesus until the next
morning when their stomachs begin to rumble and their hunger reminds
them of the guy, who the day before, provided their lunch for them.
25 "When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
Time
and time again we are told that the three basic necessities of life are
food, clothing, and shelter. Yet Jesus blows this thought to bits as He
tells the crowds the truth, "you are only here because you are hungry,
because you are looking for a handout, because I gave you a free meal."
He seems to say. "You aren't here because you recognize me as God but
because you want breakfast."
Over and over again and again
Jesus tells us not to work for or to struggle for, or to continually
think, hope, and dream for the temporary , the things that are passing
away, those things that can never satisfy. Instead He tells the people
to labor for the food that endures throughout all eternity, Jesus
Christ Himself.
Jesus is telling us not to feast on the things
of this world that are fading away, that are temporary and that can
never satisfy yet over and over again and again we see people, we know
people, and we are guilty ourselves of seeking happiness, satisfaction,
fulfillment in life in everything except Jesus. We look to find love in
lust, to find satisfaction in our careers, to find completion in our
families, and to find fullness in food. Ultimately we end up divorced,
jobless, at odds with our loved ones, and fat.
Jesus says that
none of these things can satisfy, they are temporary, they are lies,
and apart from Him they lead to destruction and death.
The
crowds who followed Jesus are much like us today, they were more
concerned with the bling than they were with the King. More concerned
with their 401ks than they were with John 3:16 and they were more
interested in 20" rims than they were with the 9" nails being driven
into the hands and feet of Jesus who hung dying on the cross on their
and our behalf.
"Don't waste your life on these things" Jesus
cries! Instead He invites us to feast on what truly satisfies, Jesus
Christ Himself. Jesus said 35“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."This
isn't some short time food high taken from a Chinese buffet with 99
items! No matter how good the kung-pao chicken or the the egg rolls are
our stomachs empty and once again we are hungry, looking for more.
What
Jesus is telling us that He is the only source of fullness, the true
source of love (1 John 4:16) dying on the cross in our place. He
completes us as He transforms us into the men and women we were created
to be (Philippians 1:6). He gives us fullness and abundant lives as we
follow His will for our lives (John 10:10) serving Him and others over
ourselves and He gives us the kind of satisfaction that can bring joy
in the face of trials as James speaks of and in suffering and anxiety
that Paul speaks of in Philippians.
Jesus didn't leave glory, come down from heaven, submit Himself to
arrest, beatings, mocking, crucifixion, and death for nothing. He
didn't purchase us out of hell and save us to a life of safety, a life
of overeating ourselves into obesity, entertaining ourselves into
boredom, spending ourselves into bankruptcy, only to die and go to
heaven at a ripe old age. He bought us at an incredibly high price,
with His own precious blood not so that He could continue to be our
Jesus in the box popping up when we have a wish or a need.
No,
Jesus purchased us to a new life, a full life, one of submitting
ourselves to His authority, one of seeking and obeying His will for us
which includes serving others, giving generously, taking risks for the
advancement of the kingdom, sharing the gospel, being in the world but
not of the world, knowing our Bibles, praying continually to God for
ourselves and others, and following Jesus where ever He leads even in
times when it doesn't make sense.
Tonight we will be worshiping
at the Lord's table and my question to you is where are you seeking to
be satisfied? Is it at the table of the world where you can never get
enough, and where you can never be satisfied or is it at the Lord's
table where He satisfies no matter what the situation?
Some in the crowds asked Jesus
28 “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
My
main this morning is to lift Jesus up to you, to make Him so glorious
that you don't want to serve anything else, that you wouldn't dare seek
after anything else to take His place, that you would love Him and
worship Him and enjoy Him forever as Savior, as King of your life going
anywhere He leads. Do you believe in Him whom God has sent?
Next
Sunday we will come again to this place and worship Jesus on Easter
Sunday. The day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. What do you
hunger for this morning? Is it for a deeper relationship with the King?
Are you seeking out His face and His will for your life? Or are you
looking to the world for temporary riches placing your hope in things
that fade and in the end lead to death?
Jesus is the bread of life and the living water and only He satisfies.
Another week gone, and another series of posts handed over in
triplicate to the folks at iron mountain to be hauled via armored car
to the hillside bunker for safe keeping.
1.
Friday is for photos: This first one is taken in our front yard. I have been doing some landscaping and thought some yard art would be nice but didn't really want to go the way of the yard gnome if you know what I mean? For some reason the neighbors aren't to happy and the association continues to call the house.
2. These next two pics come to your courtesy of a hike with my mom and my aunt to fern falls. I know, where is the picture falls?
3. This picture was taken during a break at the annual Theology & Apologetics conference held in an undisclosed location. I just wish we hadn't taken off our smoking jackets before the paparazzi snapped this picture!
Think you know your blog writers? How many do you know? Start from left to right.
4. If you like great photography make sure to visit Steve Mckoy's Friday photos here [link] and Joe Thorn's here [link].
Want
to see your photo published here? Submit all family friendly photos to
bjnotbk@gmail.com for consideration. Please note that I reserve the
right to publish or not publish any submission.
5. The bjnotbk photo contest is still on. Currently we have 4 entries submitted and need a total of 10 for the prize to be awarded. Good luck!
6. What are you reading? So many great books, so little time! I am almost finished with the book of Acts and I can't decide what to do next? Romans seems right but I want to read Mark and Hebrews... I just picked up another Piper book, A Hunger for God - has anyone read this one? So far it looks to be great.
7. What are you listening to? Me? I am glad you asked.
See if this doesn't make you fell all squishy inside. This is kinda like French, I have not clue what they are saying but it sounds beautiful and the pictures are nice to look at.
8. On the web - from time to time I come across neat websites and I will start sharing them here with you in this space. This week? Have you heard of the search engine Google? Ok, so I don't have anything for you today but be on the lookout.
9. Weekend plans? Yes, we just purchased a swing set for S and L
if my calculations are correct, and they always are as I still rely on my slide rule, it should be completely put together by the time the kids graduate from high school.
Anyone out there want to come over and help?
10. Thanks everyone for reading bjnotbk this week. My prayer is that
you will be entertained and encouraged or challenged each time you stop
by. I am also praying for you, my readers, that is, so be encouraged
in knowing that no matter what someone, somewhere is praying for you.
Now go read your Bible, love your family, lover your neighbor, get
outside, and love Jesus!
I am a book worm, a book collector, a definite book lover to say the least. Today I went to our local Christian Bookstore to pick up a gift for a friend or as my wife so keenly put it, "a great excuse to go to the bookstore for yourself." Boy does she know me or what?
Today though I noticed something, Christian Bookstores make me break commandments...just follow me on this one.
1. As I was looking for a book on the law, insert sarcasm here, I noticed about 75 other books that I wanted, or should I say covet? "I wish I could find that book on the law and fast!" I thought, not wanting to break any more commandments before I could get out.
2. Not only did I covet but in coveting I dishonored my mom and dad....ugggh!
3. I realized quickly that I was worshiping knowledge and possibly material possessions over God.....dad gum!
4. As I stood there with a buggy full of books, t-shirts, jewelry, cards, gift bags...all designed to show my love for Christ, I realized that I wasn't being "one" with my wife because if she could have seen me at that moment she probably would have pimp smacked me. Really, would I ever wear the necktie with all the Jesus fish on it? Probably not but aren't ties impulse buys anyway?
5. This all made me cuss, not real cuss words because that would be sinning and I...dad gum, my pride just got in the way of my righteousness.
Never mind. Just note that in an effort to be holy and righteous I am never going to another Christian Bookstore again.
The audio and video from the text and context conference is now online and now available to all to view.
I will do a couple of posts with my favorite sessions.
1. Putting Pastors in Their Place - Mark Driscoll - be prepared to be challenged
This is a great sermon.
Putting Pastors in Their Place [link].
"The question isn't will there be preaching....but what will be preached?"
Here is your weekly Church Steeple Picture. I
see Jesus as God reaching down to man, the steeple as man lifting up
the cross to the community and reaching up to God.
This was taken right outside my hotel room in Seattle, Washington during my recent trip.
Want
to see your steeple photo published here? Submit all church steeple photos to
bjnotbk@gmail.com for consideration. Please note that I reserve the
right to publish or not publish any submission.
Pastor Joe [link] has a great post today on setting up a Moleskine journal. You don't journal? Why not? Never heard of Moleskine? Shame on you....Joe's tips center around how he uses his journal in ministry, how he sets his journal up, and how he organizes his journal.
Here is the direct link to the post [link].
And here are the answers....
1. "Back in my RAF days....What? What?" Chicken Run
2. "Fin, Noggin, Duuuude" Finding Nemo
3. "Cha pow" "he did what in his cup?" Cars
4. "I'll give you 10 dollars to stop calling me yellow....sure sunshine." Curious George
5. " To infinity and beyond!" Toy Story
So here is the cutest entry so far! This one comes from human blogger.
To date I have received 4 entries. Remember, you still have to April 1st to submit your photo.
Good luck!
When I was a child I played as a child, now that I am an adult with children I spend 99% of my time watching the same handful of movies over and over and over again.
Here is a quiz for each of you...how many of the following movies quotes can you guess correctly?
Here is how it works...I provide you a quote, you guess in the comment section.
1. "Back in my RAF days....What? What?"
2. "Fin, Noggin, Duuuude"
3. "Cha pow" "he did what in his cup?"
4. "I'll give you 10 dollars to stop calling me yellow....sure sunshine."
5. " To infinity and beyond!"
If you guessed all five correctly you are in full blown toddler heaven.
If you guessed 3 correctly you are a great aunt or uncle.
Breaking news just out of Rome this morning...
Vatican Adds Seven New Deadly Sins Including Abortion, Contraception and Drug-Dealing [link]
Just 14 deadly sins? And here I was foolishly thinking that scripture states all sin is deadly and that the penalty for all sin is death. Boy am I glad this has been cleared up!
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