May 1, 2010

“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.”

~ Thomas Paine

Noah's Ark

Parents gave us this super awesome baby alien space ship for Noah:

It's a carrier, stroller, bassinet, Espresso machine, Sham Wow, all in one. If it was fed gasoline, it would have the city mileage of an aircraft carrier.

Rounding 3rd trimester, and more beautiful every day!

Nice April Day

For a while there, we figured Spring would never be back.

Man Size Holiness

"The church of Christ is composed of all who are savingly united to Him by genuine faith. They are infallibly known only to Himself. They are scattered far and wide, separated from each other by seas and mountains; they are a people of many nations and languages. But, wherever their lot is cast, they hear His voice, and are under His gracious eye. They do not have equal degrees of spiritual light, or measures of grace—but they are all 'accepted in the Beloved'. They are all spiritual worshipers, and joint partakers of grace—and all will hereafter appear together at their Savior's right hand in glory! In whatever is essential to their salvation, they are all led by the same Spirit, and mind the same things.

But at present they are in an imperfect state. Though they are new creations—they are not freed from the 'principle of indwelling sin'. Their knowledge is clouded by much remaining ignorance; and their zeal, though right in its aim, is often warped and misguided by the corrupt influence of self. They still have many corruptions. They live in a world which furnishes frequent occasions of enticing them. And Satan, their subtle and powerful enemy, is always upon his watch to mislead and ensnare them!

Besides all this—they are born, educated, and effectually called, under a great variety of circumstances. Habits of life, local customs, early relationships with families and friends, and even bodily constitution, have more or less influence in forming their characters, and in giving a bias and turn to their manner of thinking; so that, in matters of a secondary nature—their sentiments may, and often do—differ as much as the features of their faces! A uniformity of judgment among them on these secondary matters, is not to be expected, while the wisest are defective in knowledge, the holiest are defiled with sin, and while the weaknesses of human nature, which are common to them all—are so differently affected by a thousand impressions which arise from their various situations.

They might, however, maintain a unity of spirit, and live in the exercise of mutual love, were it not that almost every individual unhappily conceives that they are bound in conscience, to prescribe their own line of conduct—as a standard to which all their brethren ought to conform! They are but few, who consider this 'narrow mind-set' to be as unnecessary, unreasonable, and impracticable, as it would be to insist, or expect, that every man's shoes should be exactly of one size!

Thus, though all agree in asserting the authority and right of the Lord Jesus, as King and Head of His church—yet the various ideas they frame of the rule or standard to which He requires them to conform, and their pertinacious attachment to their own conceptions of it—separate them almost as much from each other, as if they were not united to Him by a principle of living faith! Their petty differences form them into so many separate churches; and the fury with which they defend their own ideas, and oppose all who cannot agree with them in every minute point, makes them forget that they are children in the same family, and servants of the same Master! And, while they vex and worry each other with disputations and censures—the world is bewildered by all this, and laughs at them all! The spirit of love is restrained, offences are multiplied, and Satan is gratified by beholding the extensive effects of his pernicious and long-practiced maxim, Divide and conquer!

'Accept one another, therefore, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.' Romans 15:7"

~ John Newton

“The great test of personal piety is personal holiness. It is better to have the evidence of a meek, forgiving temper, of a serious, devout spirit, of a tender, grateful heart, of a chaste, pious conversion, of a consistent, holy life, in favour of our acceptance with God, than it would be to have an angel bring down from heaven the book of life, and show us our names written therein. This might astound, it might for a while delight us; but then we should probably soon become presumptuous, or fall into doubts, under the impression that we had been deluded. But a life of holiness is not only in the general reliable, it is in fact infallible evidence that we are God’s people. Nothing can set it aside.”

~ W. S. Plumer

A good Marine will be missed

Last night, I got a message from JE. It said:

“On 1 April 2010, one of the vehicles in my platoon hit an IED and several of my Marines were injured, one mortally. Please keep Sgt Frank World and his family in your prayers, may he rest in peace. I am eternally grateful for his hard work and dedication, always putting for his best effort to help train and mentor my junior Marines. He will be dearly missed.”

Here is the article about Sgt World:

I need to be reminded of this more often I think. This Marine seems to be the typical Marine – of impeccable character, unwavering physical and spiritual strength, absolute dedication, and much he was willing to sacrifice for his country. My brother said he was a upstanding Marine and a great friend. God rest his soul.

Happy Easter

“Now let the heavens be joyful,
Let earth her song begin:
Let the round world keep triumph,
And all that is therein;
Invisible and visible,
Their notes let all things blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen

Our joy that hath no end.”


~ John of Damascus