Excellence?

Our good friends over on The Back Deck have issued an award to this blog; rating it as "E" for Excellent. I'm not sure what the criteria is, but I do greatly appreciate the sentiment.

I'm assuming that I am to pass this along to others, but being the lazy person that I am, I'll simply point you to the left of this page where I have already listed those sites which are most excellent. Of course, The Back Deck is among those listed, as is the Challies site and Monergism mentioned in the previous post here; but so are others whom I don't know personally and are not part of a contest I'm trying to win!

All of this assumes, of course, that my opinion of what is a good read is really worth anything, but hey, we can all dream. Happy reading, all, and thanks again for the vote of confidence, guys. I'll try to get back in the swing of things and give you something to merit the award (ha!)

Remember the Sabbath

One of the issues our family has struggled with over the years is the idea of "keeping the Sabbath." What exactly does it mean? Is it still necessary for New Testament believers? How much emphasis should it get? How much should we encourage others to do likewise? And so on.

Recently, I read a fairly short, to the point and helpful article on this over at the reformation21.org site. It was written by Rick Phillips, senior minister of Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, S.C., . I would encourage you to read this post on Advice for Sabbath-keeping.

I know this will not answer any and all questions. I know I still have some examination to do on the issue myself, but I find myself leaning more and more toward agreement with Phillips and others in this camp. You may disagree, but I hope you'll at least take time to read the article, read the Scriptures he cites and prayerfully considering remembering the Sabbath more faithfully.

Conference Update

Although I missed the Grace Camp Meeting at Rockport Baptist Church this past weekend, I was delighted to discover that ALL 14 messages are available online to download. You can read Pastor Scott's blog entry on the conference itself, and you can go to SermonAudio.com to download any or all the conference messages. I haven't listened to all of them yet, but I'm sure you'll be blessed by each of these men of God as they break the Bread of Life. Ah, ain't technology great!

That's My Boy!

Sorry, but it's proud daddy time again. Deacon Jim took me and Nathanael out turkey hunting for the very first time this weekend for youth season. And on his first try, first day, first shot, Nathanael got himself a big ol' tom. Go to our family site for more details.

The Liberal Agenda

As so often happens, I have no original thoughts here. But there are several posts I've read elsewhere lately that remind us of what the liberal agenda is all about and how at odds it is with both the facts and common sense morality:

Regarding Life:
Rod Albert's Press On blog about Obama comments

Regarding Morality:
Story on Planned Parenthood's "advice" to teens

Regarding "Climate Change:"
From Andy Barnett's Culture War blog about the facts vs. fiction

Regarding more of Obama's questionable background:
Mentored by a communist?

For those who just want to know more about a Christian View of voting, etc. :
Listen to this from Scott Brown's blog

The point of all this is simple: The liberal folks have a definite agenda for this nation, and it has nothing to do with taxes or the war in Iraq. It has everything to do with a secular humanistic worldview that will take us further and further from our Christian national roots. Christians need to stand up and take notice of these things and not stick our heads in the sand or be swayed by the slick PR campaign being waged.

Obama does have one thing right. It is about "hope." But he has none to offer. Our only hope is to turn to Christ and away from this continued moral slide we're in. May God have mercy on us.

Homeschool Freedom - Update

For those who have an interest in the California case which in some ways has become a threat to homeschool freedom, here is the latest update sent out by the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA):

Court of Appeal Grants Petition for Re-hearing

On March 25, the California Court of Appeal granted a motion for rehearing in the 'In re Rachel L.' case--the controversial decision which purported to ban all homeschooling in that state unless the parents held a teaching license qualifying them to teach in public schools.

The automatic effect of granting this motion is that the prior opinion is vacated and is no longer binding on any one, including the parties in the case.

The Court of Appeal has solicited a number of public school establishment organizations to submit amicus briefs including the California Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and three California teacher unions. The court also granted permission to Sunland Christian School to file an amicus brief. The order also indicates that it will consider amicus applications from other groups.

Home School Legal Defense Association will seek permission to file such an amicus brief and will coordinate efforts with a number of organizations interesting in filing briefs to support the right of parents to homeschool their children in California.

"This is a great first step," said Michael Farris, chairman of HSLDA. "We are very glad that this case will be reheard and that this opinion has been vacated, but there is no guarantee as to what the ultimate outcome will be. This case remains our top priority," he added

This is truly good news at this point. I urge you to keep praying about this case. As I've said in response to some earlier comments, regardless of the particulars in this one family, the phrasing of the courts judgment was the concern. We need to continue to fight for the rights of parents to raise and educate their children according to biblical principles, including the freedom to homeschool.

Another Great Conference Opportunity

As long as I'm plugging conferences, I thought some might be interested in this one. My friend Scott Lee at Rockport Baptist in Arnold, MO (St. Louis Area) is hosting this Grace Camp Meeting and Bible Conference. The dates are April 10-13, starting Thursday night at 7:00 and going through Sunday morning.

One of my all time favorite preachers, Paul Washer, will be one of the speakers. He is the director of the HeartCry Missionary Society and one of the most intense, challenging, biblically sound men of God I've had the privilege of hearing.

Unfortunately, due to commitments within our own fellowship, I'll not be able to attend. I would love to be there, since this church is only minutes from my folks house, but it just won't happen this year. But I did want to do what advertising I could for this event because I know that it will be a blessing to any and all who attend.

Defending Your Faith Family Conference

I just wanted to call your attention to what promises to be an outstanding family get-away. The ministry of Answers in Genesis (AiG) is sponsoring a “Defending Your Faith Family Conference” this summer in Branson, Missouri. Billed as “a spiritual feast for the family,” it will be held July 15-18 at the Tri-Lakes Center in Branson. Personally, I’m excited about the opportunity to hear some of the men I respect most on issues of faith and family. The speakers include:

Ken Ham, founder of AiG and an expert on Creation issues.

Voddie Baucham, pastor of Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, TX; author of Family Driven Faith, and respected speaker on issues like family and cultural apologetics.

Doug Phillips, founder of Vision Forum Ministries and champion of the Biblical family, Biblical manhood and womanhood, etc.

Carl Kerby, founding board member of AiG, and one of their most popular speakers.

Since we’re short on funds around our place, we’ve decided to make this our family vacation for the year. What’s so great is that Cheryl and the kids are as excited about this trip as I am. I can’t think of a better way to spend our time and money that to get the whole family together for a few days of learning from these men, fellowship with like-minded families, and throw in a couple days in Branson to boot.

I know it’s not super cheap. Were it not for some tax refund money, we probably wouldn’t be able to do it either. But compared to what many spend on vacations, this comes in at or less than the usual cost. And the benefit to your family will be priceless.

I don’t know what kind of demand there will be for this, but I would suggest you pray and consider this now and make your reservations soon. Hope to see you in Branson in July.

The Hound Of Heaven

Every now and then I thoroughly enjoy going back through my music archives and pulling out stuff that was popular back in my “radio days” (i.e. the mid- to late- 80s when working at various Christian stations in college and after). Recently, I’ve been on a DA (Daniel Amos) kick.

One of my favorite songs has always been “The Hound of Heaven.” I just like the music. I like the hook line. But lately, I’ve come to be quite fond of the whole theology behind the concept itself.

The song is based on a 182 line poem of the same title written by 19th Century English poet Francis Thompson. The images Thompson weaves of a man on the run from God, looking to man and beast and indeed the rest of all creation for aid, is truly remarkable. Yet, at every step, he hears even bigger steps behind him, and a Voice letting him know how futile this flight is.

I wouldn’t expect you to read all 182 verses: but here is at least the beginning and the end (those who are non-poetry lovers or with shorter attention spans can skip to the conclusion below):

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmèd fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbéd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
“All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.”

…
Now of that long pursuit
Comes on at hand the bruit;
That Voice is round me like a bursting sea:
“And is thy earth so marred,
Shattered in shard on shard?
Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest Me!
Strange, piteous, futile thing!
Wherefore should any set thee love apart?
Seeing none but I makes much of naught” (He said),
“And human love needs human meriting:
How hast thou merited—
Of all man’s clotted clay the dingiest clot?
Alack, thou knowest not
How little worthy of any love thou art!
Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee,
Save Me, save only Me?
All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might’st seek it in My arms.
All which thy child’s mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:
Rise, clasp My hand, and come!”
Halts by me that footfall:
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?
“Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!
Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me.”

Francis Thompson (1859-1907)

What a great and glorious God of grace we serve! A God who’s love and mercy will not let us go until He has accomplished His purposes. And then to look back over the course of one’s life and see that all those things we thought were struggles and difficulties, and maybe even “desertions” by God, were really intended by God to draw us closer to Himself.

1 Peter 4:19 reminds us: “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” Seems to me to be an echo of the same thought. That God will use whatever means possible/necessary, even suffering, to ensure we are drawn to Him and “entrust our souls to a faithful Creator.”

Forgive me is this seems a little to melancholy. Getting nostalgic and listening to these old songs make me a bit more reflective than usual. But I for one am glad for a God of such persistence. In the end, the sound of those Footsteps breathing down my back has come to be more of a comfort than a fright. And I pray they will become the same for you, and that the Hound of Heaven will overcome you with His grace.

Homeschool Freedom

Dear Reader,

I don’t know if you consider yourself the activist type or not, but I would encourage you to read and sign this petition being offered through the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).

I mentioned in an earlier post about the recent decision in a California Court of Appeals which basically decided that homeschooling is illegal in California unless a parent is a certified teacher.

According the HSLDA:

The Court could have restricted its decision to the facts before it, but instead, it issued a broad ruling that effectively outlaws home education in California. The Court also certified its decision for publication, which means that the decision can now be cited as legal authority by all other courts in California.

One option to keep homeschooling free in California is to petition the Supreme Court of California to “depublish” the opinion. If the opinion is “depublished” then it cannot be used by other California courts and this threat to homeschool freedom will be neutralized for other California homeschoolers.

Regardless of the particulars of this specific case, the court has obviously gone too far in issuing such a broad reaching decision. As someone who enjoys the freedom to homeschool, and furthermore considers this freedom to be a basic right that should be available to all in all 50 states without interference from the government, I want to stand alongside our California brethren. Signing a petition is the very least I can do.

I would urge you to join me in signing the HSLDA’s petition, as well as to pray for homeschoolers in California, and the rest of the nation for that matter. We are living in a day when the freedom of individuals, especially Christian individuals it seems, is slowly being eroded right from under our feet. Forgive the alarmist sounding note, but we need to unite and stand firm against such erosion if we want our children to enjoy the freedoms we take for granted.

So please, commit this to prayer and consider signing this petition.