God and Gump

Act of Approach

Adoration is a key component in personal worship of our God. Thinking of His attributes (His everlasting love, grace, mercy, goodness, holiness, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, unchanging character, truthfulness, etc) helps me focus on how awesome He is and in the manner I must approach Him.

The following is an old Puritan prayer from the book Valley of Vision which is beautifully written in a way of humble approach to our King in Heaven.

Act of Approach

Benign LORD,

I praise thee continually for permission to approach thy throne of grace,
and to spread my wants and desires before thee.

I am not worthy of thy blessings and mercies for I am far gone from original righteousness;

My depraved nature reveals itself in disobedience and rebellion;

My early days discovered in me discontent, pride, envy, revenge.

Remember not the sins of my youth,
  nor the multiplied transgressions of later years,
    my failure to improve time and talents,
    my abuse of mercies and means,
    my wasted sabbaths,
    my perverted seasons of grace,
    my long neglect of thy great salvation,
    my disregard of the Friend of sinners.

While I confess my guilt, help me feel it deeply, with self-abhorrence and self-despair, yet to remember there is hope in thee, and to see the Lamb that takes away sin.

Through him may I return to thee,
    listen to thee,
    trust in thee,
    delight in thy law,
    obey thee,
    be upheld by thee

Preserve my understanding from error,
    my affections from love of idols,
    my lips from speaking guile,
    my conduct from stain of vice,
    my character from appearance of evil,
     that I may be harmless, blameless, rebukeless, exemplary, useful, life-giving, prudent, zealous for thy glory and good of my fellow-men.

Amen

Apple Cake Recipe

I typically don't put recipes on my blog, since I'm not much of a cook. I'm pretty much a frozen dinner chef. But my brother's girlfriend, Natsuko, was featured recently for her apple cake recipe recently in Cin Weekly online magazine (a part of Cincinnati.com). I thought it was pretty cool, so I thought I'd post the link.

Congrats, Nats!! Hope to see you and Dwight soon! Love ya both!

http://www.cinweekly.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007702070321

And for the category of "best politically motivated, Orwellian fictional documentary drama" goes to... Algore.

Yes it is true. Move over Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Al Gore has something you don't...an Oscar. The former Vice President of the United States won the award last evening at the 79th Annual Academy Awards for his documentary on global warming, 'An Inconvenient Truth'.

I know...this is not a political blog - nor to I wish it to be. When I want to blog about politcal/faith issues, I usually post comments to blogs designed for that like Stones Cry Out. For now, I'm asking for a little indulgence while I have some fun at Al Gore's expense. :-)

I happen to have a copy of Al Gore's first draft of his acceptance speech, but he decided to "cool" it with a much tamer version. So here it is for your amusement...

Oscar Acceptance Speech

- Rough Draft -

"Thank you, Thank you! (wait for applause). Thank you! This is too much! (continue to wait for applause).

Please, please be seated (wait for applause to conclude).

"I would like to first thank the Academy for this great honor. This is justification for 'The Day After Tomorrow' not receiving best picture a couple years ago. (pause for laughs from audience).

"I would also like to thank the liberal media, The Weather Channel and many of you talented people in Hollywood, like Leonardo DiCaprio...I could not have achieved this without your help. It's not easy to discredit many scientists and to completely distort the scientific method to help us reach our political goals. (applause) But you pulled it off, and I thank you. I'm so glad you are on my side! (pause for laughter and then applause)

I would be remiss if I didn't thank my wife, Tipper, (pause for applause) for not campaigning for a warning label for this film so children of all ages can be brainwashed and scared to death by the notion that their parents are destroying the planet.

Because of this validation - beginning tomorrow, I am going to work with my good friend Nancy Pelosi to draft a federal unfunded mandate to require 'An Inconvenient Truth' to be shown by every earth and physical science teacher in the country. (pause for thunderous applause).

And finally I would like to thank my god, Mother Earth. May this apocalyptic prophesy of mine honor you. Thank you!!" (more applause)

[Exit stage right...I mean left]

Sunset at Laguna Beach

Trenton and I are in southern California this week for a small groups conference at Saddleback Church. The picture above is of a spectacular sunset at Laguna Beach. What a gift it was to see God revealed in His creation. This morning in my reading, the following short passage from Psalms reminded me of the beautiful scenery here in southern California. The ocean crashing on the rocky cliffs, the cool pacific breeze and the beautiful mountains to the east topped with soft cloud cover. A spectacular sight! Only the hand of the Almighty can create such things.

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 95: 1-5

1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

John Piper is Bad...

My good friend and colleague, Trenton, shared this with me today. It's a video clip on YouTube that really getting around in Christian circles. It has excerpts of Reformed Theologian and pastor John Piper's message on the depravity of man set to the music of Michael Jackson's "I'm Bad". The clip also has photos of other Reformed Theologians like Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, John Calvin, R.C Sproul, John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, and others.

I thought it was clever and very funny. It's cool when you can get a laugh and a lesson on the Doctrine of Total Depravity at the same time!

Daily Devotional Tool on God and Gump

Since the beginnning of Epiphany, I have been using the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office Lectionary in my morning devotional time. I've found it to be a great way to start my day with God.

If you would like to use this devotional/study tool, just click on the date in the right margin of the blog and you will be directed to today's reading. Also in that margin, You can still do the "bible in a year" study as well. These tools use the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Virtual Art Gallery

About a year ago, I started a new hobby - painting. Yes, on a canvas. I know, I know...most of you that have known me for a long time would have a hard time picturing me as the artsy type. I'm right there with ya. Who'd a thunk it?

Well, I could never even draw a stick man. Just ask Mr. Ludy, my art teacher in school. But I've always been intrigued by painting. But was always afraid to try. So one day I finally asked my friend Jackie at church if she could give me some tips on how to get started. What to buy, what to look for, etc. Well, being the kind hearted (an apparent gluten for punishment) she is, she went one step further and offered to give me a lesson. Well that day opened a whole new world to me. Painting is both easy and difficult. It's liberating and captivating at the same time. It's an opportunity for someone to take a thought, an image an emotion - anything- and translate that subject onto a blank canvas.

I'll never forget Jackie's encouragement. She'd say, "It's your painting...so you can't get it wrong." She'd emphasize that it didn't matter if I messed up. You can always correct it, and if you can't - so what?! It's just a canvas. Just paint over it all and start over. What freedom! Anyone that has spent any time with me knows that I can't sit still. I usually find it difficult to focus. But not when I'm painting. I can paint for hours upon hours. Not even stopping to eat or use the restroom. I have only finished a handful of completed projects. Most of the time, I practice technique on a canvas pad.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this opened a new world to me. Jean and I go to art museums. I'm always looking for opportunities for inspiration. And it is one more way that I can worship my Creator.

If you are interested in seeing any of my paintings, you can go to the left margin of my blog and scroll down a bit and click on my "Virtual Gallery". Each slide has a short description of the painting.

Bless you for indulging me in this.

Peace!

Meeting God

I'm often reminded of my sins and how in my depravity I really have nothing offer my Creator. When struck by this reality, I have two choices - I can continue in mortification over my sin nature, or I can lift my eyes and hands to heaven and thank my God for His grace and His mercy and receive His strength to move ahead in a way that is pleasing to Him.

I believe there is a time for us to be in agony over our sin. It should mortify us. Today, I choose to move from the former to the latter and have "Christ reign supreme within me, in every thought, word, and deed in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to thee, and ever clings to the cross."

I read this puritan prayer this morning, so I thought I'd share it with  you today. The theology in this prayer stirred my soul. I hope you find it edifying as well.

Meeting God

Great God,

In public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped in prayer, filled with the spirit of grace and supplication, each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood.

Help me, defend me, until from praying ground I pass to the realm of unceasing praise.

Urged by my need, invited by thy promises, called by thy Spirit, I enter thy presence, worshiping thee with godly fear, awed by thy majesty, greatness, glory but encouraged by thy love.

I am all poverty as well as all guilt, having nothing of my own with which to repay thee.

But I bring Jesus to thee in the arms of faith, pleading his righteousness to offset my iniquities, rejoicing that he will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy thy justice.

I bless thee that great sin draws out of grace, that although the least sin deserves infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for where guilt is most terrible, there thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep.

Bless me by revealing to me more of his saving merits, by causing thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart.

Strengthen me to give thee no rest until Christ shall reign supreme within me, in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to thee, and ever clings to the cross.

-A puritan prayer from the book, Valley of Vision

New Direction

I know I haven't posted in a long time, my life has been crazy since the new year began. As many of you know, my life has gone in a different direction. As of the first of the year, I resigned from my job as the political grassroots manager for Nationwide Insurance to go to work in full-time ministry for my church as the small groups pastor. I have felt God leading me in this direction for quite some time now.

It was very difficult leaving some very close friends at Nationwide, Farm Bureau and others in government relations circles and I already miss them. But I must say that the transition has been incredibly smooth. Even though I have been very busy (too busy to post), I am enjoying the work more than I could have ever imagined.

My responsibility is to manage the small group ministry at Crossroads Community Church. That involves training leaders, organizing groups and making sure that anyone looking for a small group finds one. Crossroads is a large church and it is easy to get lost in the crowd here if we aren't intentional in providing avenues for people to find community.

My entire professional career has been in working with and training volunteers. How awesome it is to look back and see how God has been preparing me for this ministry through the 10 years of grassroots political experience with  Farm Bureau and Nationwide.

As things settle down, I hope that my posting can be more regular (at least twice a week). Thank you to all of you that have been praying for Jean and I during this transition and we appreciate your continued prayers.