Darth Vader on National Cathedral?

From the National Cathedral Website:

How did Darth Vader, a fictional villain from the Star Wars movies, end up on the wall of Washington National Cathedral? In the 1980s the Cathedral, with National Geographic World magazine, sponsored a competition for children to design decorative sculpture for the Cathedral. The third-place winner was Christopher Rader of Kearney, Nebraska who submitted a drawing of this futuristic representation of evil. Darth Vader was placed on the northwest tower with the other winning designs: a raccoon, a girl with pigtails and braces and a man with large teeth and an umbrella.

The fierce head was sculpted by Jay Hall
Carpenter and carved by Patrick J. Plunkett.

More information can be found here on the Darth Vader self-guided tour page.

In the Footsteps of Jesus #16

Scripture: Psalm 122

¹I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

²Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

³Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

⁴Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.

⁵For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

⁶Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

⁷Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

⁸For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

⁹Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

"PRAY FOR JERUSALEM"

A few of us had jumped off the bus at the end of the one day’s touring and took a self-guided tour of the Old City. Our wandering brought us to the Western Wall, better known as the Wailing Wall. This is the most sacred site in all of Judaism. The night we arrived was the start of the Sabbath. Hundreds of devout Jews were making their way to pray at the Wall.

Since it was raining we took refuge in a small alcove beneath the Wall. The room was filled with Jewish men deep in prayer. Taking a copy of the Psalms off the shelves that lined the room we moved close to the wall. We read the words of Psalm 122. After we had finished I offered up a prayer for the people of Jerusalem. As I was praying I felt a hand upon my shoulder, it was an elderly Jewish man who was moved by the fact that Christians would pray for him and his fellow Jews. It was a special moment for him as well as us.

How quick we are to forget that the Jews are still God’s people. He has a plan for them and for Jerusalem. It was to them that He first sent the Savior. We are indebted to them. Let us remember to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!

Question: How are we indebted to the Jewish people?

Prayer: Father, open the eyes of the Jews to see their Messiah. Amen.

Sunday Spurgeon

"It is true that Jesus saves his people from their sins—earth knows it, hell howls at it, and heaven chants it; time has seen it, and eternity shall reveal it."

Middle Earth Alert!

Video: Kennedy on Supreme Court Then and Now

CNSNews.com has put together a great video showing the flip-flopping of Senator Kennedy in regard to the questioning of Supreme Court nominees. Check it out here.

Battlin' Bishops: Conservatives Challenge Connecticut Cleric

The Washington Blade is reporting that nine conservative Episcopal bishops will take Connecticut's bishop to religious court over his suspension of one priest and threat to remove five others.

Dubbed the "Connecticut Six," the priests had asked to be supervised by a different bishop because they disagreed with Connecticut Bishop Andrew Smith's support for Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the church's first openly gay bishop.

Earlier this month, Smith used his power to "inhibit" one of the six, Rev. Mark Hansen, and appointed another priest to lead St. John's Church in Bristol.

In a letter to Smith dated Wednesday, the bishops, most from the South and Midwest, said they plan to intervene in the case of St. John's and are prepared to do the same if the five other priests are inhibited.

"We would prefer to find some way other than this deepening battle, but we refuse to allow this recent aggression to go unchecked or unchallenged" they wrote.

The bishops said they are preparing a"presentment," a formal charge filed in ecclesiastical court, charging Smith with ''conduct unbecoming'' a bishop.

All I can say is way to go guys! To let such an abuse of power to go unchallenged would only embolden the minority leadership into more tyrannizing of the majority of good minsters.

In the Footsteps of Jesus #15

^{Scripture: Mark 11:15-19}

¹⁵On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written:

"'My house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

¹⁸The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

"COMMERCIALIZED CHRISTIANITY"

They’re everywhere! On the sidewalks, in the alleyways and even on the buses! Who are they? The vendors in Israel. You cannot go to any sacred site without being besieged by someone trying to sell you something. Olive wood crosses, picture postcards, Roman coins, Bible bookmarks, you name it they are hawking it. And they won’t take no for an answer. This was probably the most disappointing aspect of our time in Israel. It seemed often times so commercialized.

Not much different from the time of Jesus. Buyers and sellers crowded the Temple courts, making it hard for people to draw near to God. So with righteous anger, Jesus clears his Father’s house. Driving those who would profit from religion out of the way of the true worshippers.

Could we stand a similar housecleaning today? Have you noticed how commercialized our faith has become? We have Christian buttons, T-shirts, posters, jewelry and so on. Slap a cross on it and it sells. Some of our preachers spend more time peddling products than proclaiming the Gospel. Are we cluttering up our Christian lives so much that we are losing sight of God? What would Jesus say to those who try to profit from our faith? Let’s take a long hard look at how we promote and sell Christianity.

Question: Do the Christian items you own help or hinder your faith?

Prayer: Father, help us to worship you in the right spirit. In Jesus name. Amen.

In the Footsteps of Jesus #14

<sup>Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-6

1</sup>Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. ²For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.^{[a] 3}For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

"As I swore in my wrath,
'They shall not enter my rest,'"

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." ⁵And again in this passage he said,

"They shall not enter my rest."

⁶Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, ⁷again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts."

"WALLED UP?"

On the day of his triumphal entry, Jesus rode through the Golden Gate into Jerusalem. On the day we visited, we were unable to enter in. In fact for over 1000 years, no pilgrim has been able to enter through the Golden Gate. It is walled up. Shut with brick and mortar by Muslims who believe they can keep the Jewish Messiah out. Little do they know He is already here! For many years, this sealed entrance has stood as mute testimony to the hardness of heart of those who would resist the Savior.

Our text from Hebrews warns us to avoid hardening our hearts to Christ. How easy it is to wall up parts of our lives and attempt to keep Jesus out. How we try to keep certain sins to ourselves. How we resist the Spirit’s efforts to change us.

Maybe its time you and I tear down some of the walls that keep Christ out of our lives. The hymnwriter reveals Jesus’ deepest desire: “The Savior is waiting to enter your heart. Why don’t you let Him come in? There’s nothing in this world to keep you apart. What is your answer to Him? Time after time He has waited before, and now He is waiting again, to see if you’re willing to open the door. Oh how He wants to come in!”

Question: What areas in your life are hardened to God?

Prayer: Lord, soften my heart so that Jesus might fully enter in. In His name. Amen.

San Diego Saves Soledad Cross!

Unofficial counts say that the 75% of San Diegoans voted in favor of Prop A, a measure that would transfer the site over to the federal government to be converted to a war memorial and save the famous symbol. After 15 years of fighting the ACLU, the people have spoken...The cross still stands!

Check out the Soledad Memorial site here.

In the Footsteps of Jesus #13

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed-- on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare; its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass. And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

(Rev 21:9-27)

"WAITING FOR THE NEW JERUSALEM"

As I write this meditation I am looking at the group photo taken from the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem. It reminds me how beautiful it was. You see the great stone walls rising up from the plain. The ancient city gates, many still in use today beckon one to enter in. Jerusalem is truly one of the world’s great cities.

In the very middle of the group photo stands Lloyd. Soon after our return from Israel, he was found to have cancer. Almost one year after we went to Jerusalem, Lloyd went home to be with the Lord.

Shortly before he died, Lloyd and I were talking about the trip to Israel. We were remarking on all the sights we saw and how wonderful a time it had been. I remember commenting how glorious Jerusalem looked in our group photo. Lloyd smiled and said: “That’s true, Pastor, but how much more glorious will be the New Jerusalem.”

What for you and me is still a living hope is a reality for Lloyd and for those who have gone before us. But someday soon, you and I will hear the archangel’s call and will see the Lord coming again in clouds. We, like John, will witness the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. Friend, will you be ready to enter in?

Question: Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior?

Prayer: Even so, come Lord Jesus! Amen.

Probably Just Another Liberal Lie...

The Hill News is reporting today that Helen Thomas, royal pain of the Washington press corps, is threatening suicide over a possible 2008 run by VP Dick Cheney.

“The day I say Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I’ll kill myself,” she told The Hill. “All we need is one more liar.”

All I wanna say is: RUN DICK RUN!

HT to Drudge...

ABDUCTION: The Megumi Yokota Story

Imagine for one moment your child is late from school. You look up at the clock. You think, 'This is a bit strange. Normally, she's home by now.' You go to the school. You're told she went home a long time ago. Suddenly, that panicked feeling all parents dread hits. A night goes by, she doesn't come home. Another day, a week, a year, 5 years, 20 years goes by and still no word. That was the nightmare the parents of Megumi Yokota, a 13-year-old Japanese girl, lived after she disappeared in November, 1977. But that was just the beginning of the Yokota family's nightmare. In 2002, the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il admitted that his spies kidnapped Megumi and 12 others in order to train their secret agents in the culture and ways of the Japanese.

When my wife and I first heard this shocking true story we decided that it was something Americans had to hear. At the time, we were working full time and had no outlet to tell the story. So, with some room on our credit cards and a few dollars in our savings account, we took off to Japan and began shooting a documentary that has changed our lives. For more than a year, we have followed the Yokota family as they struggle to get their daughter back.

Our film is not a political or investigative work. It is a powerful, moving testimony to a parents' love for their child and what that love looks like when it is put to the test. More importantly, it is a story about the strength of family. It is a story you simply have to see to believe.

At the moment, we are in post-production, which means we are assembling the film in an edit room. The final film will be ready at the end of September. Our plan is to enter it in to film festivals around the world, starting with the Sundance Film Festival, one of the most prestigious. The only trouble is we do not have enough funds in place to show it publicly. We need your help. More importantly, the family of Megumi Yokota needs your help. Some very important people agree with us. Jane Campion, Academy Award-winning director of "The Piano" saw some of our footage and signed on as Executive Producer. Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA), Ambassador Tom Foley, National Geographic Senior Asia Writer Tom O'Neill, Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) and many others count themselves as supporters.

If you want to help us tell this very important story to people here in America , please contact us at safarimedia@yahoo.com . For more info on us, check out our website at www.safarimedia.net.

We are especially looking for large corporate or individual donations (more than $5000) since our immediate needs are in the tens of thousands.

Donations can be made to the film via the International Documentary Association, one of the largest organizations of its kind in the world. They are backing our film by allowing us to use their charitable status to receive donations.

Please make your check payable to:

"International Documentary Association"

Please write "Abduction" on the check.

Mail to:

Safari Media

PO Box 33957

Washington DC

20033-0957

USA

Your funds will help us pay for the largest expenses in our budget, namely rights to use music, archival video footage, sound engineering (so it can be shown in a theater) and the high cost of transferring our digital tape to film.

This story has the power to change people's lives not just in Japan but here in the United States as well. Help us do that.

Thank you for reading this.

Chris Sheridan and Patty Kim

Co-Directors, "Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story"

Today in History: A Big Mistake

July 28, 1945: The U.S. Senate ratified the United Nations Charter by a vote of 89-2.

What Were We Thinking?

In the Footsteps of Jesus #12

Something a little different today. I have recorded the devotion for you. Let me know if you like it. Click button below...

"The Things That Make For Peace"

Luke 19:28-44

Episode 4: Revenge of The Reformers

Neopuritan over at Ars Theologica has uncovered this heretofore unknown picture of John Calvin.

Did Jedi mind tricks influence the results of TheologicalStudies.org's poll that named Calvin as the "Greatest Theologian of All Time?"

Things that make you go "Hmmm"

* If money is the root of all evil, why do churches beg for it?
* Doesn't a lightning rod atop a church show a lack of faith?
* Why do we say, "heads up" when we want someone to duck for cover?
* What was Captain Hook's name before he lost his hand and had to get a hook?
* I saw an ad the other day for caskets (coffins), it said, "Lifetime Guarantee". Huh?
* When French people cuss, do they say, "Pardon my English"?
* Can you breathe out of your nose and mouth at the same time?
* Why did Yankee Doodle name the feather in his hat "Macaroni"? For that matter, why did he name the feather in the first place?
* Who was the first person to see a cow, and say, "I think I'll squeeze those dangly thingies under there, and drink what comes out."?
* Who was the first person to say, "Do you see that chicken over there? I think I'll eat the first big thing to come out of it's butt."?
* Why is it illegal to park in a handicapped parking place if you are not handicapped, but it's OK to use a handicapped toilet?
* Why is it that "Chopsticks", is the easiest song to play on the piano, but the hardest utensil to eat with?
* Why can't you get a tan on the palms of your hands?
* If you were in space, and had a compass, which way would it point?
* Did Noah have woodpeckers on the arc? And if he did, why didn't he eventually sink?

And last but not least for today...

* If your name is David Crunch, and you joined the military, and you went up in ranks, how do the other people not laugh when they have to address you as Captain Crunch? And would you have to pay royalty rights or would they?

HT to “It’s a Wild Life, and Unfortunately Its Ours!”

In the Footsteps of Jesus #11

Scripture: Luke 18:35-19:6

35As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." 38And he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 40And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41"What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me recover my sight." 42And Jesus said to him, "Recover your sight; your faith has made you well." 43And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

1He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." 6So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

"STOPPING IN JERICHO"

On our way from Galilee to Jerusalem, we stopped for lunch at the Temptation Cafe in Jericho. It sits at the edge of the wilderness where Jesus was tempted by Satan. Jericho is one of the more familiar biblical cities. Who can forget the song “Joshua fit the battle of Jericho?” Yes, we did see the fallen walls. It is a must spot for the tourist.

Jesus however didn’t really have time to stop in Jericho. He was on His way to Jerusalem and to the cross. In just a few days He would be riding into Jerusalem. Surely there was no time for chit-chat or a sit down meal, eternity hung in the balance. Salvation was to be won. It was the most crucial time in Jesus’ whole ministry.

That’s why I am amazed by today’s text. Particularly verse 40, which says Jesus stopped. How wonderful, that Jesus would take the time for one blind beggar. Even with the weight of the moment before him, he took the time to hear the cries of one man. Then as if he had no cares in the world, he stops to make dinner reservations with Zaccheaus.

Friends, this should encourage you today. If Jesus was willing to put destiny on hold to stop for Bartimeaus and Zaccheaus, he is willing to stop for you. Nothing is more important to him than that.

Question: Do I take the time to stop for others?

Prayer: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!

Bishop Bullies Believers

From Worldmag.com:

"One down, five to go.

At 9:30 a.m. on July 13 liberal Episcopal bishop Andrew Smith of Connecticut, several of his administrators, a pro-gay feminist priest, a locksmith, and a computer technician swooped into conservative, 200-congregant St. John's Episcopal Church in Bristol, Conn.

They pried open the locked pastor's office, confiscated pastoral and church records, took down the church's website and redirected traffic to the diocese's website, changed the locks on all the doors, and announced to protesting church leaders and members that the diocese had taken over St. John's. Bishop Smith said he had suspended Rev. Mark Hansen from ministry, and Rev. Susan McCone was now in charge. Rev. Hansen is one of the six priests in the state who said Bishop Smith was welcome to visit their churches but not to preach or administer the sacraments . Because he had voted to approve the consecration of an openly homosexual bishop in the Episcopal Church (ECUSA), they asked him to appoint a theologically conservative bishop to provide alternate oversight for them, as ECUSA policy allows. When the bishop refused, the six churches began withholding dues from the diocese. In March, he suspended them from ministry, declaring they had "abandoned the communion." They rejected the charge and refused to budge... (Read the rest of the story here.)"

I have been following this saga with some interest for many months now. I admire Rev. Hansen and the other five men who have placed principle over politics. The storm-trooping actions of Bishop Smith should be repudiated by all sincere Episcopalians and lovers of Biblical truth. Is this what the future holds in denominations where liberal leaders try to impose order upon conservative churches and pastors? I shudder to think.....

In the Footsteps of Jesus #10

"Image(s) courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org"

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-16

1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

"BRIGHT BLESSINGS"

The Church of the Beatitudes sits upon a beautiful hill, forming a natural amphitheater, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. In your mind’s eye you can picture the crowds seated upon the outcroppings of stone basking in the cool breezes listening to Jesus teach. All around the mountain is some of the most fertile land in the world. Estimates are that they can get 18 cuttings of alfalfa a year! What better place to speak of the bountiful blessings that are available to the disciples of our Lord.

The Church itself is a marvelous structure designed with eight wings. One for each beatitude. And around the ceiling are those same beatitudes done in glorious stained glass. We were there early in the morning and as the sun streamed through it cast brilliant multi-colored light upon the whole interior.

As I reflect upon that sight I am reminded of the story of a little boy who grew up in a church with many stained glass windows that he saw every Sunday. One day he was asked by his Sunday School teacher, “What is a saint?” And he replied, “It is someone who light shines through!”

That little boy had it right. Didn’t Jesus himself say, “Let you light so shine before men?” Don’t keep the blessings to yourself. Share them with others as you reflect the light of God.

Question: How can I let Christ shine through me?

Prayer: Lord, make me a blessing to someone today. In Jesus name. Amen.

When Democrats Leak CIA Secrets...

Newsmax.com shares this interesting story:

The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into whether Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, Jay Rockefeller and Ron Wyden leaked details about a secret "black ops" CIA satellite program last December in a move that may have seriously compromised national security, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Jed Babbin said on Saturday.

"The CIA made a request to the Justice Department to investigate and possibly bring criminal charges against these three [senators]," Babbin told WABC Radio host Monica Crowley. "My information is that investigation is ongoing."
Rockefeller is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Durbin is the No. 2-ranking Democrat in the Senate.

Media reports on the satellite leak last December indicated that the Bush administration was concerned about public comments by Durbin, Rockefeller and Wyden and that the CIA had requested a Justice Department probe.

"The formal request for a leaks investigation would target people who described sensitive details about a new generation of spy satellites to The Washington Post, which published a page-one story about the espionage program Saturday [Dec. 11, 2004]," a Justice Department official told The Associated Press at the time.

But the same official told the AP that Justice "has not decided whether to investigate."

Former Deputy Undersecretary Babbin's comments on Saturday were the first indication that such a probe was actually launched and is ongoing.

"The fact of the matter is that [Durbin, Rockefeller and Wyden] divulged something that was above and beyond top secret and frankly, they probably blew the strategy and the hundreds of millions of dollars that were being spent to pursue it," Babbin told Crowley.

"The acknowledgement of [the "black ops" program's] existence is not even proper and the acknowledgement of them and the details of them can very well damage national security," Babbin added.

Asked if he thought the three Senate Democrats should have their security clearances revoked for the duration of the leak probe, the former Defense Department official said: "Absolutely and forthwith. I mean, they should have been revoked at the time of the leak."

"There's really not much doubt about the leak having occurred," Babbin told Crowley. "It's in the press records, it's in the Congressional record. We know what they did."

"The only question," he explained, "is how much damage was done by the leak. And that's part of the criminal investigation right now - to do a damage assessment, to figure out how much this is going to cost us strategically and militarily."

This is of more importance than the Valerie Plame story, but will we be hearing more about it? Will we hear calls for the resignation of these Democratic senators? Or will the evil Karl Rove somehow get the blame! The Democratic party seems to think very little about compromising National Security if it gets them a little ink in the MSM.

Sunday Spurgeon

"Devotion to God will be found to be the basis of holiness and the buttress of integrity. If you backslide in secret before God, you will soon err in public before men."

Hero Machine 2.0

They have updated the Hero Machine to include better graphics and more refinements.


Here is the new and improved me...














This one was made on the Hero Machine 1.0 -
Which do you like better?
The winner will become my new profile pic.
















By the way, some people think this one looks more like Phil Johnson over at Pyromaniac. What do you think?

In the Footsteps of Jesus #9

"Image(s) courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org"

Scripture: Matthew 17:24-27 (ESV)

²⁴When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?" ²⁵He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" ²⁶And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. ²⁷However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."

"HE WILL SUPPLY"

I have two rather different, yet related items I picked up in the Holy Land. One is a stone from the Sea of Galilee and the other is a key chain. What they share in common is that both have a fish on them. A unique fish. Its lower jaw juts out prominently. I don’t remember its scientific name, but its common name is the Saint Peter’s fish. It gets that name for its unusual habit of scooping up items off the sea floor with its jaws. These fish have been pulled in and found to have stones, buttons and even coins in its mouth!

The miracle of Peter and the coin in the fish’s mouth is not one we often hear about. It pales perhaps next to the feeding of the 5,000 or the raising of Lazarus, but it has just as important a lesson to teach us. God will supply our needs. Not only the big ones. But the small ones as well. And many times he will meet those needs by using the resources at hand. Whether he uses a little boy’s lunch or a fish with a strange habit of picking coins up off the bottom of the Sea, God cares for us. Open your eyes today to see his marvelous provision.

Discuss: How has God provided miracles in your life?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for meeting our needs. Give us eyes to see life’s small miracles. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What You May Not Know About My Adopted State - New Jersey

1. New Jersey is a peninsula.

2. Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.

3. New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.

4. New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky.

5. New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana, Cuba.

6. New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.

7. New Jersey has the highest cost of living.

8. New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.

9. New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.

10. New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."

11. New Jersey is home to the original Mystery Pork Parts Club (no, not Spam): Taylor Ham or Pork Roll.

12. Home to the less mysterious but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.

13. North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.

14. New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

15. The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.

16. New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns; some of the nation's most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Cape May.

17. New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.

18. New Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.

19. Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.

20. New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts?)

21. Here's to New Jersey - the toast of the country! In 1642, the first brewery in America, opened in Hoboken.

22. New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.

23. New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.

24. New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.

25. George Washington slept here. Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.

26. The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ, laboratory.

27. We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.

28. The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.

29. The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport, NJ.

30. The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ.

31. New Jersey is home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City.

32. The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on it's playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City.

33. And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world, not to mention salt water taffy.

34. New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.

35. The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains.

36. New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world. (Union, NJ!!!)

37. New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.

38. The Pulaski Sky Way, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.

39. NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).

40. The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

41. The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889 (Rutgers College played Princeton).

42. The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ (but they're all gone now!).

43. New Jersey is home to both of "NEW YORK'S" pro football teams.

44. The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ.

45. The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.

46. All New Jersey natives: Sal Martorano, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnelly, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Mer yl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gorden McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm.Halsey,Jr., Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Bob Reyers, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia and, of course, Francis Albert Sinatra and "Uncle Floyd" Vivino, Kelly Ripa.

HT to "Ain't it Amazing?" for these fun facts!

In the Footsteps of Jesus #8

"Image(s) courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org"

Scripture: Luke 5:1-7

¹ So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, ²and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. ³Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

⁴When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

⁵But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." ⁶And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. ⁷So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

"JESUS BOAT"

In 1986, after ten years of drought, the Sea of Galilee yielded up one of its secrets. Near Kibbutz Ginossar, an ancient wooden fishing boat was found. Tests proved conclusively that it dated back to the time of Jesus and was on Galilee when He walked its shores. Who knows perhaps it was the one that Peter left on the beach when he went to follow Jesus?

His fishing boat was one of Peter’s most prized possessions. It represented a great financial investment. It was his livelihood. His workplace. And to Peter’s place of work, Jesus came and asked if He might use it for awhile. Little did Peter know what would happen when he allowed Jesus to sit down. Not only was he instrumental in letting others hear the Good News, later on he got his own private miracle and an invitation to follow Christ. All because he was willing to let Jesus use his boat.

One of the most important places we need to let Christ’s light shine is in our workplaces. How crucial it is that others see us serve our Lord where we work. Our integrity and honest labor testify to how Jesus influences all areas of our lives. Perhaps if we allowed Christ into our workplaces, we might see more miracles in our lives.

Question: How can I show Christ in my workplace?

Prayer: Father, we thank you for the gift of work. Show us how we can work for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In the Footsteps of Jesus #7

Scripture: Matthew 12:22-33

²²Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. ²⁵And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

²⁸And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." ²⁹He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw the wind,^[c] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" ³²And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

"On Galilee"

One of the places most connected with the ministry of Jesus is the Sea of Galilee. Many miracles took place around or on it. A number of them involved Jesus' disciples out in a boat. The most famous of those incidents is the one recorded in today's Scripture.

The day we rode upon the Sea of Galilee, the breezes were mild and the waves gentle, but it can quickly turn around. When the wind whips down the Valley of the Doves, the sea can begin to church up big storms; storms that could frighten even the most seasoned of fisherman. So it was on that night during the fourth watch as the Twelve struggled against the wind and waves.

As Jesus always does He comes in the midst of the disciple's storm. "Don't be afraid!" He says. But that isn't enough for Peter. He wanted to come to Jesus on the waters. And he did. As long as he kept his eyes fixed on the Lord, he kept afloat, but as soon as he looked at the storm raging around him, he sank like a stone.

So it is today, the storms of life can arise seemingly out of nowhere, churning up our situations and threatening to sink us. Don't lose heart. Learn from Peter. Keep your eyes upon Jesus and He will walk with you through the storm.

Question: What storms are you facing today?

Prayer: Father, the storms of life are many; help us keep watching Jesus. Amen.

The Final Frontier..."Scotty" Dies at 85

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor James Doohan, best known as Scotty, the feisty, Scottish-accented chief engineer on television's original "Star Trek" series, died on Wednesday at his home in Redmond, Washington, his manager said. He was 85.

Doohan, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease last summer, died of complications from that degenerative illness and pneumonia, Steve Stevens told Reuters.

A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Doohan was a prolific voice actor on Canadian radio before making his move into television in the 1950s.

But he will be remembered for playing Lt. Commander Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, the can-do chief engineer aboard the starship USS Enterprise on the original "Star Trek" series, which ran from 1966-69 on NBC. He reprised the role for several big-screen "Star Trek" features.

One of his character's chief functions on the show was to operate the transporter used to "beam" crew members to and from the Enterprise -- often in response to an order that entered the pop culture as the catch phrase "Beam me up Scotty."

Doohan's last public appearance was in October, when he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In the Footsteps of Jesus #6

<sup>Scripture: John 2:1-11

1</sup>On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, ²and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

⁴"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

⁵His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

⁶Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

⁷Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

⁸Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, ⁹and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

¹¹This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

"Wine, Weddings and Song"

John records the first miracle of Jesus as turning water into wine. The small chapel in Cana stands over the spot where tradition claims that miracle took place. Our tour group crowded into the small room under the chapel and stood around its one prominent feature, a large water jar. Some say that this is one of the actual vessels used by Jesus. After today's passage was read, one of the other pastors in our group led the married couples in renewing their own wedding vows. It was a moving moment for all present - married or not.

There is something to be made of the fact that Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding. It is a remainder to us that God still sees the institution of marriage as a sacred one. That is no surprise since God was the originator of marriage in Genesis. Today there are so many things that tear the fragile fabric of marriage. More than ever we need God's blessings upon husbands and wives. In no place do we need to see more of His glory shown. Perhaps some of you reading this need to seek God's grace to keep your marriage alive and strong. Remember He is still willing to perform miracles of love!

Question: In what ways is Jesus part of your marriage?

Prayer: Father, there are so many things that work against couples today. Please grant grace sufficient to keep love alive and marriages focused on You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Monday Musings...

Your Blogging Type is Confident and Insightful

You've got a ton of brain power, and you leverage it into brilliant blog. Both creative and logical, you come up with amazing ideas and insights. A total perfectionist, you find yourself revising and rewriting posts a lot of the time. You blog for yourself - and you don't care how popular (or unpopular) your blog is!

What's Your Blogging Personality?

Sunday Spurgeon

"If Christ be not
first with thee,
Christ is nothing
to thee."

Make Your Own Superhero

Captain Clergy

Today's Time-Waster: Make Your Own Superhero

Found this neat little program that allows you to live out your fantasies and become the hero within. You can choose male or female, fantasy, martial ats or brick style, a wide range of weapons and adornments and much more. Give it a try. I think mine looks just like me...in my dreams!

In the Footsteps of Jesus #5

"Image(s) courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org"

Scripture: Mark 1:29-34

29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

"Open House"

The big blue sign announced our next stop as "Capharnaum - Town of Jesus." All that now remains of Jesus' adopted hometown are a few ruins and a new church. The most prominent ruin is an ancient synagogue that dates back to the 3rd century and stand upon the spot where Jesus taught 300 years before. But it is the newly excavated ruins beneath the modern Franciscan Church that have drawn the most attention - recent scholars and archeologists are saying that this place was once the house of Peter!

In this site where many Christian symbols and fish hooks have been found, Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law. Here He watched as the roof was torn up to let down the paralytic. To this place He would come and rest at the close of His journeys throught Galilee. If the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary was His home away from home near Jerusalem, Peter's home was His stop in Capernaum. What an honor it must have been for Peter to open his home to the Savior!

Jesus is still looking for homes that will be open to HIm. Places where He can come in and find receptive hearts and willing hands. Jesus wants your home and mine to be places when He can still minister grace. Behold He stands at the door and knocks.

Question: What are some ways we can open our homes to Jesus?

Prayer: Lord, help us make our homes Your home. Enter in. Amen.

Reforming the 4 Spiritual Laws

Here is a must read post from Christian artist/Reformed Evangelist Steve Camp over at CampOnThis. As someone who offended many in my college evangelism class for daring to question the validity of the Four Spiritual Laws, I really appreciate Steve's revision from a Reformed/Biblical persepective. Here is brief summary of the new and improved Four Spiritual Laws:

LAW ONE: God hates you and has a terrible plan for your life.
LAW TWO: There is nothing you can do about it. Man is sinful and utterly lost.
LAW THREE: But Christ came and died in our place and fulfilled God's law and all righteousness, took all of the sin, its guilt and penalty...
LAW FOUR: May God grant you saving faith and the grace to repent of your sin and receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior for eternal life so that you may have peace with Him forever!

Or here is more positive approach:

LAW ONE: God is holy, loving and just and has a plan for your life that He predetermined in eternity past according to His sovereign purpose and pleasure before anything that was made, was made.
LAW TWO: Man is totally inable to save himself for he is totally depraved and thoroughly sinful due to Adam's original sin in disobedience to God's command in the garden; which has been imputed to all of Adam's posterity--encompassing fully the guilt and penalty of his sin. Therefore, man is incapable of pleasing and satisfying a holy God by his own good works, religious practice or ceremony; or by charitable, philanthropic acts of kindness toward God and His creatures. For our righteousness is like dirty filthy rags rendering to us condemnation under the wrath of God for all eternity.
LAW THREE: Christ alone is the way, the truth, the life. He lived the perfect, sinless life; He alone satisfied God and fulfilled all righteousness and the Law in His life, death and bodily resurrection so that that same righteousness, by faith, can be imputed to every believer in Him so that we might have peace with God forever. Christ, though being sinless, holy, and undefiled was treated on the cross as if He lived our life, so that we being sinful, unholy and completely defiled might be treated through grace as if we lived His life. He was the perfect, sinless High Priest; and He was the perfect sinless sacrificial Lamb given. He is both Savior and sacrifice; Priest and propitiation; Lord and Lamb.
LAW FOUR: Repent from your sin (deny yourself), turn to Christ (take up your cross) and take the gift of the Holy Spirit (and follow Him). Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Submit to Him as Lord and receive Him as Savior.

In the Footsteps of Jesus #4

Image(s) courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-25

¹²When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. ¹³Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— ¹⁴to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
¹⁵"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
¹⁶the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."

¹⁷From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

The Calling of the First Disciples

¹⁸As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him.

²¹Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²²and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus Heals the Sick

²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. ²⁵Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,^[b] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

"Home Missions"

One of the first things that struck me about my visit to Israel was how small a country it is, barely 70 miles across and 210 miles long. Yet this tiny strip of land has impacted human history in a way none other ever has or ever will. Here is the very cradle of our faith.

But what was even more surprising to me is that most of Jesus' minstry encompassed only a tiny fraction of this small nation. Our guide reminded us that most of the teaching and preaching of Jesus took place in Galilee. And of that region most of the sites we find mentioned in the Gospels are less than three miles apart! Imagine that...nearly 80% of Jesus' minstry was spent in His own backyard. Yet how trememdous was the impact of that ministry. Indeed, from that little arc of land around the Sea of Galilee, the entire world was changed forever.

What does this say to you and me? It tells me that I don't need to go overseas to impact the world for Christ. I can have an influence in my own neighborhood, with those closest to me. The greatest mission we can do is "home missions." We need to be reaching out to our family and friends with the Good News. Mission is wherever you find yourself today.

Question: In what ways can I impact those closest to me?

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to see the need in my neighborhood, In Jesus's name. Amen.

Christian Carnival LXXVIII (All-Star Edition)

Check out the big-league posts from some of the the All-Stars of Christian Blogging over at "A Ticking Time Blog."

In the Footsteps of Jesus #3

Scripture: Mark 1:1-11


¹The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

²It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
"I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way"—
³"a voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.' " ⁴And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

⁹At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

"Water Words"

Yardenit. That is the name given to the place where tradition says John baptized Jesus in the river Jordan. It wasn't what I expected. Too many movies led me to look for sand, rocks and hills. In fact this quiet little bend in the Jordan is green and lush, the waters calm and very clear.

As we stood beside the Jordan, in my mind's eye I tried to picture the scene: Jesus dripping with water breaking the surface, the heaven's opening and God speaking the words, "You are my beloved Son, with You I am well pleased."

These words come back to me every time I baptize someone. I believe that God speaks these same words each time a person recieves the waters of baptism. These "water words" should be as encouraging to us as they were when first spoken to Jesus.

Throughout the Christian life, we must remember that we are children of God, sons and daughters of a heavenly Father. He loves us deeply and He always will. Nothing can separate us from that love. Being washed in the blood of His Son, God is also pleased with us. We have His mark of approval placed upon us in the seal of baptism. When times get difficult, let us return to these "water words" and find comfort and strength.

Question: Which "water word" do you need most to hear today?

Prayer: Father, speak to us again and again throughout our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.

In the Footsteps of Jesus #2

"Image(s) courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org"

Scripture: Luke 2:51-52

⁵¹Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

"Learning Obedience"

From the picture above you can see that today Jesus's hometown of Nazareth is a bustling city. A predominately Arab-Christain community it has all the sights and sounds one would expect of a thriving tourist town. But 2000 years ago it was just a small village. Here Joseph had his business, Mary made a home and Jesus grew up. Not much different really from the way you and I grew up.

As we walked back to our bus one afternoon, the alleyway we were going down suddenly filled with laughing, playing children. As they passed I tried to imagine Jesus playing in these same streeets. I wondered about his playmates. Did they see anything different about him? Or was he just little Jesus, Joseph's boy?

We know very little about Jesus' childhood. The only real account is from Luke 2 from which our text is taken. And from that we have no reason to assume that Jesus grew up any differently than any other boy of his day.

What stands out for me is what Luke says in verse 51: "He was obedient to them." Even though He was God, Jesus obeyed his parents. Even when they made wrong decisions, He listened to them. Consider that for a moment. If Jesus was willing to be obedient to his earthly parents, how much more should you and I be willing to obey our heavenly Father! Do we?

Question: In what ways must you be more obedient to God?

Prayer: Lord, help us to learn obedience to Your will and Your way. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

In the Footsteps of Jesus #1

Over the next few weeks I want to share some of the insights I gained from my two trips to Israel. The Holy Land is often called the Fifth Gospel since an understanding of the geography and the culture of the time is crucial to an understanding of what the Gospels say about our Lord. I invite you to follow with me in the footsteps of Jesus.

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11
¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death
even death on a cross!
⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Our journey begins in Bethlehem. As you can see from the picture above to approach the birth-place of Jesus requires that you humble yourself..Literally. The entrance to the Church of the Nativity is a small door about 5 feet high. Originally built to prevent horses from entering this holy site, it now serves as a wonderful object lesson on how we should approach Christ.

Once inside you are greeted by wide open spaces and rich artistry. The altar area gleams with gold and flickering candles. The actual spot where Jesus was supposed to have been born is marked with a large silver star. It is quite a beautiful shrine, but a far cry from what is was like when Jesus was born. No gold or silver, only the cold and some straw.No grand altar, but a simple stone manger.

Paul writes to the Church in Phillipi to remind them how much Jesus had to humble Himself to save us. He did not merely stoop to enter a room. He had to give up so much more. All the silver and gold of this world is nothing compared to the riches of heaven. And Jesus left the glories of that place for the sinfulness of this world - for us! May that thought humble our hearts today!

Question: What do you think you should give up considering Jesus' sacrifice?

Prayer: Father, help us to realize just a bit of what Jesus gave up for us. Help us to have the same mind among ourselves. Make us humble. In Jesus' name. Amen.