Day Out

First off, yeah, what she said!

Now that that's out of the way... We loaded up the van and went to visit my grandmother today. She's at a retirement community now, and I can imagine it can get kind of lonely and boring there. So, we spent some time just being there, smiling at her, letting her hold and hug and kiss her great-grandchildren. It was very nice.

After that, we went to the Sweetest Place on Earth™ to check out the newly renovated Chocolate World. The renovations are ok, nothing earth shattering. There are more singing cows than you can shake a stick at, that's for sure. Speaking of shaking sticks... there was apparently some big cheerleading convention in town or something, because the place was filled with young girls dressed quite inappropriately. I mean, it was cold and raining outside, and there they were wearing next to nothing. It's terrible, I know, but females DO NOT need to take their clothes off, as men have a hard enough time keeping them dressed in their minds already, understand me? So, while we're standing in line these countless teenage cheerleaders, along with their parents, start cheering stuff like, "We want chocolate (clap clap ~ clap clap clap)! We want chocolate (clap clap ~ clap clap clap)!" And I'm like "Put some clothes on (clap clap~ clap clap clap)! Put some clothes on (clap clap ~ clap clap clap)!" I turn to my daughter and say, "That's why we signed you up for Karate, get it? So you know how to chop and kick these kinds of people." The free candy at the end is always nice.

Layers

"Onions have layers! Ogres have layers!"

And for your added enjoyment: U2 singing a classic! (LOL @ Bush not doing it right!)

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms... sounds like the ideal convenience store.

Alcohol: I've been active in the Beer Exchange Program. Half a case of Appalachian Brewing Company's Jolly Scot Scottish Ale got me half a case of Smithwick's Irish Ale (pronounced like "Smitticks," unless you wanna sound like a beer dummy). Then, two of those Jolly Scots got me one bottle of Victory Hop Devil, and one bottle of Weyerbacher Old Heathen from a buddy at work, both of which beers, despite their poorly chosen diabolical names, I can't wait to try.

Let's take it to the HNL (Whole 'nother Level) and talk about Whiskey. A couple months ago, I sent my wife out to the State Controlled Alcohol Dispensary to replenish our supply of Knob Creek 9 Year, which at that point had become my favorite bourbon. Instead, she came home with a bottle of something that was on sale. I was disappointed, but decided to try it before I yell and throw things. Mmm... oily, citrusy, with a little bite, and another little bite, and lots of little bites. Ok, I might like this... BETTER. My current favorite bourbon is now Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 Year Old. Get some, now. While you're out buying bourbon, pick up a bottle of Maker's Mark, too. Smells like vanilla, burnt oak, yumminess.

Tobacco: Got me a new pipe. A Lucca Arancio bent pipe. I'm stuffing it with some tobacco called Old Leatherneck that I get at my local pipe shop. It tastes and smells like leather, and I'm told it's in the "English Natural" family of tobaccos.

Firearms: I need to get out and shoot my S&W .357 Magnum Revolver. It's been too too long.

IN OTHER NEWS:
"I feel like a mere mortal now." -- A woman at work after finding out that I have seven children.

You Bunch of Losers!

No winners in the "Guess What Body Part Jerry's Icing" game. I have to say, I liked the "ego" answer, but a few years ago my ego was nearly crushed and obliterated, and I suppose I would like if it never recovers.

I was not icing my foot, though it needed it:


Nor was I icing my forearm, though that needed it too!


I was icing... (drum roll)...

BOTH WRISTS AND MY RIGHT THUMB (tendonitis).

Now THAT was a fun game. Whoo. What do you want to play now?

IN OTHER NEWS:

I saw it on the 'net that Elton John is auctioning off the stuff in his closet. Umm... ok, I don't want to know what that nancy has in his closet, understand? Besides, Elton's fashion sense has nothing on Jesse:


Here's how busy I am... this picture is from last month, when Cole got his green belt, and Conner and Calle, their orange belts (pictured with Sensei John Devine, a very nice man, my friend, and our Karate teacher):


Ok, that's all I got for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Another Word for Parents

How may a parent provoke his children to wrath?

(1) By giving them opprobrious terms. 'Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman,' said Saul to his son Jonathan. 1 Sam 20:30. Some parents use imprecations and curses to their children, which provoke them to wrath. Would you have God bless your children, and do you curse them?

(2) Parents provoke children to wrath when they strike them without a cause, or when the correction exceeds the fault. This is to be a tyrant rather than a father. Saul cast a javelin at his son to smite him, and his son was provoked to anger. 'So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger.' I Sam 20:33, 34. In filium pater obtinet non tyrannicum imperium, sed basilicum [A father exercises a kingly power over his son, not that of a tyrant]. Davenant.

(3) When parents deny their children what is absolutely needful. Some have thus provoked their children: they have stinted them, and kept them so short, that they have forced them upon indirect courses, and made them put forth their hands to iniquity.

(4) When parents act partially towards their children, showing more kindness to one than to another. Though a parent may have a greater love to one child, yet discretion should lead him not to show more love to one than to another. Jacob showed more love to Joseph than to all his other children, which provoked the envy of his brethren. 'Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, and when his brethren saw that, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.' Gen 37:3, 4.

(5) When a parent does anything which is sordid and unworthy, which casts disgrace upon himself and his family, as to defraud or take a false oath, it provokes the child to wrath. As the child should honour his father, so the father should not dishonour the child.

(6) When parents lay commands upon their children which they cannot perform without wronging their consciences. Saul commanded his son Jonathan to bring David to him. 'Fetch him to me, for he shall surely die.' I Sam 20:31. Jonathan could not do this with a good conscience; but was provoked to anger. 'Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger.' I Sam 20:34. The reason why parents should show their prudence in not provoking their children to wrath, is this: 'Lest they be discouraged.' Col 3:21. This word 'discouraged' implies three things. Grief. The parent's provoking the child, the child so takes it to heart, that it causes premature death. Despondency. The parents' austerity dispirits the child, and makes it unfit for service; like members of the body stupefied, which are unfit for work. Contumacy and refractoriness. The child being provoked by the cruel and unnatural carriage of the parent, grows desperate, and often studies to irritate and vex his parents; which, though it be evil in the child, yet the parent is accessory to it, as being the occasion of it.

(7) If you would have honour from your children, pray much for them. Not only lay up a portion for them, but lay up a stock of prayer for them. Monica prayed much for her son Augustine; and it was said, it was impossible that a son of so many prayers and tears should perish. Pray that your children may be preserved from the contagion of the times; pray that as your children bear your images in their faces, they may bear God's image in their hearts; pray that they may be instruments and vessels of glory. One fruit of prayer may be, that the child will honour a praying parent.

(8) Encourage that which you see good and commendable in your children. Virtus laudata crescit [Goodness increases when praised]. Commending that which is good in your children makes them more in love with virtuous actions; and is like the watering of plants, which makes them grow more. Some parents discourage the good they see in their children, and so nip virtue in the bud, and help to damn their children's souls. They have their children's curses.

(9) If you would have honour from your children, set them a good example. It makes children despise parents, when the parents live in contradiction to their own precepts; when they bid their children be sober, and yet they themselves get drunk; or bid their children fear God, and are themselves loose in their lives. Oh if you would have your children honour you, teach them by a holy example. A father is a looking-glass, which the child often dresses himself by; let the glass be clear and not spotted. Parents should observe great decorum in their whole conduct, lest they give occasion to their children to say to them, as Plato's servant, 'My master has made a book against rash anger, but he himself is passionate;' or, as a son once said to his father, 'If I have done evil, I have learned it of you.'

~~Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity.

Ahh blah!

I'll get to posting the answers to the icing game, with some pics, soon. Right now I'm baffled. I went to start my Mozilla Thunderbird email client, only to find a diaglogue asking me to start a profile. Huh? Where's all my email? Gone! What? I can't find my Thunderbird profile or emails, nor can I successfully perform a "System Restore" to a previous date -- the computer locks up and never completes it.

A mystery, and not the kind that I enjoy!

And now it's time to play...

What body part(s) is Jerry icing!

Here's how to play: Jerry came home from class tonight hurting in various places... too many places to put ice on at one time, without just sitting in a tub of ice, so he had to be selective. Guess which part(s) Jerry is icing, and you win the game!

On your mark...

Get set...

GO!

(and they're off!)

Christianity: The Truth (Worth Fighting For)

There never was a martyrdom save as the result of controversy. The spirit which would still contention for the truth never yet went to the stake. There is a sentiment abroad indeed which decries controversy. The same sentiment should certainly decry martyrdom also. An anemic Christianity which is too little virile to strive for the truth can never possess the nerve to die for it. And the contradiction of loving the one and hating the other is glaring.

~~B.B. Warfield.

More Muslim Immorality

The "Religion of Peace," it appears, is also the "Religion of Family Values." A man accidently divorces his wife in his sleep, the divorce is upheld against the wishes of both the husband and the wife, and the wife is required to copulate with another man before she can go back to her husband!

Amazing.

Some Context for the Quote

The Cast, in order of appearance:

Cole (a nine year old boy)

Daniel (a 4 year old boy)

Elisabeth (a 3 year old girl)

Act I
The family is seated at the table. On the table sits a jar filled with a dark and thick liquid -- it's table syrup to schmootz on your bread.

Cole (gesturing at the jar): Is that beer?

Daniel: Yep, it's beer.

Elisabeth: No, it's not beer, Daniel, it's table syrup.

Daniel: NO. It's beer, Elisabeth.

Elisabeth: No, Daniel. It's table syrup. You don't understand table syrup.

The End.

A quote.

"You don't understand table syrup." -- Elisabeth W.

A Word to Parents

How should parents so act towards their children as to be honoured and reverenced by them?

(1) Be careful to bring them up in the fear and nurture of the Lord. 'Bring them up in the admonition of the Lord.' Eph 6:4. You conveyed the plague of sin to them, therefore endeavour to get them healed and sanctified. Augustine says that his mother, Monica, travailed more for his spiritual birth than his natural. Timothy's mother instructed him from a child. 2 Tim 3:15. She not only gave him her breast-milk, but 'the sincere milk of the word.' Season your children with good principles betides, that they may, with Obadiah, fear the Lord from their youth. 1 Kings 18:12. When parents instruct not their children, they seldom prove blessings. God often punishes the carelessness of parents with undutifulness in their children. It is not enough that in baptism your child is dedicated to God, but it must be educated for him. Children are young plants which you must be continually watering with good instruction. 'Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.' Prov 22:6. The more your children fear God, the more they will honour you.

(2) If you would have your children honour you, keep up parental authority: be kind, but do not spoil them. If you let them get too much ahead, they will condemn you instead of honouring you. The rod of discipline must not be withheld. 'Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from hell.' Prov 23:14. A child indulged and humoured in wickedness, will be a thorn in the parent's eye. David spoiled Adonijah. 'His father had not displeased him at any time, in saying, Why hast thou done so?' 1 Kings 1:6, 7, 9. Afterwards he became a grief of heart to his father, and was false to the crown. Keep up your authority, and you keep up your honour.

(3) Provide for your children what is fitting, both in their minority and when they come to maturity. 'The children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.' 2 Cor 12:14. They are your own flesh and, as the apostle says, 'No man ever yet hated his own flesh.' Eph 5:29. The parents' bountifulness will cause dutifulness in the child. If you pour water into a pump, the pump will send water again out freely; so, if parents pour in something of their estate to their children, children worthy of the name will pour out obedience again to their parents.

(4) When your children are grown up, put them to some lawful calling, wherein they may serve their generation. It is good to consult the natural genius and inclination of a child, for forced callings do as ill, sometimes, as forced matches. To let a child be out of a calling, is to expose him to temptation. Melanchthon says, Odium balneum diaboli [Idleness is the devil's pleasure resort]. A child out of a calling is like fallow ground; and what can you expect should grow up but weeds of disobedience.

(5) Act lovingly to your children. In all your counsels and commands let them read love. Love will command honour; and how can a parent but love the child who is his living picture, nay, part of himself. The child is the father in the second edition.

(6) Act prudently towards your children. It is a great point of prudence in a parent not to provoke his children to wrath. 'Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.' Col 3:21.

~~Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity.

More Hasidic Karate

Maybe you've had enough of the Hasidic Jew Yellow-belt doing some kind of Karate, but I sure haven't. I want to PARTY with this guy!


Speaking of Hasidic, has anyone else caught a listen of Matisyahu? He's a Hasidic Jew (originally from West Chester, PA!) that does rap/reggae with a Yiddish twist, and I really like the sound of it.

Blessed by the generosity of others

I've been having a rough time of it, emotionally, for the past few days. I go through bouts of this now and again. So, in an effor to focus on some positive things, I would like to share about how we've been blessed by the generosity of others.

I assume most readers here know I now have seven (7) children. If you didn't know, now you know. Well, we've been very blessed in that we've practically spent NOTHING on clothing for them. God has always seen fit to move others to give things to us, without solicitation on our part. Within the past week or so, three different people have given us bags and boxes of clothing, much of it brand spanking new! All thanks and praise be to the Most High God.

The other day, a co-worker of mine and friend of ours stopped by our house with a quality microscope, and some accompanying equipment, in unopened boxes, saying that she bought it for her own kids, but since they were being ungrateful, she decided to give it to someone else to teach her kids a lesson in thankfulness. Hmm... who could she give this stuff to? "Oh, I know... the Waybrights!" This is well over $100 worth of equipment! Well, our children are very thankful for it. Here's a picture we took through the microscope of a mosquito mouth:

First Day of Work

Here in the Waybright household, you don't have much time before you have to start pulling your own weight. Little Gideon is tired on his first day of work, but he's ready to roll!



Thanks to Baby Toupee, he had no problem finding a job.

Reason for My Political Dissent #326

"Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."

Judo Clips

Sometimes when I'm bored I like to video.google stuff like "Judo." Some of the gems I found:

[edit:]"At least you didn't have to fight that guy, Nick."


Sweet Flying Armbar:


SWEETER Flying Armbar:


And since I'm a Karate guy myself, here's a Hasidic Jew Yellow Belt doing... well... something:

Tall drink of...

People, listen up. I just saw a beautiful thing. There she was, standing there in the room, a gorgeous blonde in a long black dress, so stunning, so so lovely, I had to take a picture. Look at this:

Look at that lacing. Look at that opaque wonder! Oh ho ho, man! This, friends, is a Stoudt's Fat Dog Imperial Oatmeal Stout, and it is very fat, I'm telling you. Nothing wrong with loving a big-legged beer, fellas. This particular speciman was donated to me by a friend through the Beer Exchange Program. If you can get into this program, I recommend it. I am also a member of the Free Beer For Life society, which you can only join when you find your friend a spouse. Go back and look at that picture, and tell me... don't you wanna drink that?

Tyranny is NOT the Ordinance of God

...I lay down this maxim of divinity: Tyranny being a work of Satan, is not from God, because sin, either habitual or actual, is not from God: the power that is, must be from God; the magistrate, as magistrate, is good in nature of office, and the intrinsic end of his office, (Rom. xiii. 4) for he is the minister of God for thy good; and, therefore, a power ethical, politic, or moral, to oppress, is not from God, and is not a power, but a licentious deviation of a power; and is no more from God, but from sinful nature and the old serpent, than a license to sin.

~~ Samuel Rutherford, Lex Rex.

Field Trip

Sorry the pictures are so dark...

So, as previously mentioned we went to the William Penn Museum in Harrisburg yesterday. Pictured above are the children we took along. Elisabeth and Jesse hung out with their Aunt Renee, while Gideon was strapped to momma. Yes, that's Cole "doing a Lyndie" to William Penn!

Click on the links below for post-museum interviews (56k warning):

Click here to watch Daniel's Post-Museum Interview.

Click here to watch Conner's Post-Museum Interview. He-he, the escalator.

Click here to watch Calle's Post-Museum Interview.

Click here to watch Cole's Post-Museum Interview. Umm...

Click here to watch G-Diddies' Post-Museum Interview.

My favorite part was the collection of Native American pipes, I wanted to smoke them all!

Seeing William Penn's Charter, not a copy, but the real thing, complete with a uniformed guard who gave us "I saw Penn's Charter" stickers, was pretty cool. This was the document that I mentioned in my last audio post, in which Penn is granted a charter due to his desire to expand the English Empire.

And that's all I got to say about that.

Later everyone, we're off to eat 48 lbs of mexican meat, or something!

Upload Video and Images - Putfile

Pennsylvania -- "English Empire" Audio Post

from a beat up old man.

This is my left forearm. I guess I wasn't rolling my arm around far enough during Yakusoku Kumite (sparring drills). I have similar marks on both shins, my left foot above the toes, as well as a slight bruise on the outside of my left eye socket, and a sore back. That latter two injuries I accrued while wrestling with the kids (Cole kicked me in the kidney area, and Daniel intentially head-butted my on my left temple/eye -- that's some filthy fighting right there!). I have this thing where I am determined to be able to beat up all my children and the same time, no matter how many children I have, or how hold they get. I do believe I will have to revise my resolve at some point, but for now... STILL THE CHAMP.

The injuries are the bad news, the good news is that any potential attackers are going to have to hit me alot harder than that. You got that?

Today we're off on a home-schooling field trip, should the Good Lord allow it. I plan on posting something on it later. So for now, toodles.

Oscar Recap

It's time for the Confessions of a Raging Calvinist 78th Annual Academy Awards Recap! This is a service for all of you prudes who didn't watch it. Ok, I'm one of those prudes that didn't watch it. In fact, I didn't even watch any of the movies in contention, except one...



March of the Penguins won for Best Documentary Feature. If you didn't see this, I think you should. What a fascinary story of love, devotion, tragedy, and all that stuff. And it's about penguins. I recommend it, with one caveat: ignore the odd evolution-assuming comment here and there.

Speaking of Penguins, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions About Penguins website. Among the tidbits of info is:

Do polar bears eat penguins?

No, penguins cleverly avoid being eaten by polar bears by living in separate hemispheres!

This has been the Confessions of a Raging Calvinist 78th Annual Academy Awards recap!

Enjoy the rest of your day, and be glad to know that that gay cow-buggery movie didn't win Best Picture.

Law and Gospel in the Old and New Testaments

In the Old Testament are many promises, which are nothing else but the Evangelion or gospel, to save those that believed them from the vengeance of the law. And in the New Testament is oft made mention of the law, to condemn them which believe not the promises. Moreover, the law and the gospel may never be separate: for the gospel and promises serve but for troubled consciences, which are brought to desperation, and feel the pains of hell and death under the law, and are in captivity and bondage under the law. In all my deeds I must have the law before me, to condemn mine imperfectness. For all that I do (be I never so perfect) is yet damnable sin, when it is compared to the law, which requireth the ground and bottom of mine heart. I must therefore have always the law in my sight, that I may be meek in the spirit, and give God all the laud and praise, ascribing to him all righteousness, and to myself all unrighteousness and sin. I must also have the promises before mine eyes, that I despair not; in which promises I see the mercy, favor, and good-will of God upon me in the blood of his Son Christ, which hath made satisfaction for mine imperfectness, and fulfilled for me that which I could not do.

~~William Tyndale, A Pathway Into the Holy Scripture.

Golden Slumbers Juggling

Boy, you're gonna carry that weight, carry that weight, a long time!

Users and Abusers

Disclaimer: If you think this post is about you, GOOD! maybe you have some issues to work through. But the fact is, the people I primarily have in mind, to the best of my knowledge, are not likely reading this blog.

I’ve had contact with more than a few users and abusers in my life. Sadly and regretfully, I have even behaved like one towards others in the past. Some of the users and abusers are from within my own family, others were supposedly friends, and some were essentially strangers. Users and abusers, it seems to me, have one goal in mind, and that is self-gratification. That drive for self-gratification can take different forms – some drown themselves in drunkenness, some are sexually deviant and/or abusive, some are physically violent, some verbally attack, berate and belittle, while others may be more subtle in their worship of self, seeming only to seek comfort for themselves (at the expense of all others).

Users and abusers have a way of simultaneously being sorry for, and yet defensive of, their behaviors. They will say sorry, while continuing the behavior they’re supposedly sorry for. They will say sorry, while defending their right to behave that way. They will say sorry while telling you it is not their fault. They will say sorry, while telling you it’s YOUR fault. Do you know why their apologies end up being apologetics? It’s because they are not saying sorry because they are sorry. They are saying sorry because the situation they are in is causing them greater discomfort, in conscience as well as in their relations with others, and saying sorry is an attempt to relieve that discomfort (remember, they’re only seeking self-gratification). The “sorry” then, is no true “sorry.” They are not truly sorry for their behavior, or they would stop. They are not truly sorry for their abusive words, or the words would cease. They are not truly sorry, because their saying sorry is not about the person who was hurt at all, it’s only about relieving their own discomfort.

After saying their quick and dirty “sorry,” users and abusers demand immediate forgiveness. Any attempt to stay away from, lessen the contact with, keep yourself save from, users and abusers, is seen as cold cruelty, lack of forgiveness, something less than Christianity. No matter that the “sorry” is not a true sorry, and that the using and abusive behavior has not stopped, the user and abuser is not concerned with that at all. The user and abuser only wants you to relieve their conscience QUICKLY, and ultimately, to make yourself available for more use and abuse.

Users and abusers have an incredible way of making the root of the problem to be found in the used and abused, rather than in themselves. Rapists say the victim wanted it, wife-beaters say the wife had it coming, drunks are driven to drink. They might have a problem, they might be “sick,” but the true root of the problem lies in the used and abused. Those being used and abused are viewed with contempt, as objects somehow deserving of ill-treatment, and sadly, the used and abused are often convinced of the same. There is nothing more pathetic than an abused person who has been convinced that they deserve it.

There is a rule with users and abusers. The rule is, users and abusers are permitted to behave in any way they so choose, but you may never ever speak against it, act against it, or allow the natural consequences to occur. I'll explain. A drunk expects to be able to drink, no questions asked. If you ask, "Have you been drinking?", you will likely hear a lie ("No, I'm not drinking") or a curse ("Go to Hell! I'll do what I want!"). No speaking against it. No acting against it either. No pouring the booze down the drain, no leaving the area, no anything, just sit there and take it. And finally, no allowing natural consequences to occur. Suppose the drunk is now in jail after wrecking the car. If you let the drunk sit in jail, you broke the rule. If you refuse to pick them up after they're released, you broke the rule. If you refuse to even be around them until they stop their behavior, you broke the rule.

That's it! That's the game. Users and abusers win every time, because they made up the game and its rules, and they try to force us to play.

I'm not playing anymore. My coat and my cloak are gone. Both cheeks have been slapped. I've walked twain, and I don't expect to ever get back that which was borrowed. "Pray for them which despitefully use you" -- God, give me the grace.

America: Mohammed Loving Harlot.

I'm late in the game with this stuff, I know. But,



Deep inside I'm patriotic. I really am. I love my country. But I cannot give full approbation of her until she repents of her whoredoms!

I'm about to over-simplify, and so I beg your pardon.

We're told so much that the United States of America is a Christian country. It is clear, regardless of the private religious views of the "founding fathers," that this country was founded on laying aside the light of Scripture, and replacing it with the mere light of nature. Where are ancestors acknowledged and owned the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingship and Kingdom, our "founding fathers" in America merely acknowledged a vague Creator, without any indication of who that Creator is, or what He is like, or what duties He requires. According to the law of this land, any creator is just fine, and has just a much a right to be worshipped as any other god.

The political and religous position of the United States of America has resulted in defending Islam and Allah, even while fighting some kind of a war against adherents of the same.

"I also want to speak tonight directly to Muslims throughout the world. We respect your faith. It's practiced freely by many millions of Americans, and by millions more in countries that America counts as friends. Its teachings are good and peaceful, and those who commit evil in the name of Allah blaspheme the name of Allah." -- George W. Bush, September 2001.

"The U.S. government on Friday spoke out against caricatures of Islam's Prophet Mohammed that were published in European newspapers." -- Yvonne Lee, All Headline News Staff Reporter Incidently, or maybe not, the U.S., in condemning the caricatures of Mohammed, are in agreement with AntiChrist.



Ok, so let's get this straight. These wild-asses, drunk with madness from their worship of Allah, and their adherence to a delusional "prophet," who violently protest against anything that violates their religious convictions, whether by burning flags, other symbols, or people (!!!), are offended at a cartoon, and the U.S.A. and the Vatican take sides with... THE MUSLIMS???



Oh, but who are we kidding? This is nothing new. America was already casting Christ aside to bed down with Muslims as early as the 1700's!

"Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries." -- Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary.

Enough. I'm tired of hearing Christians tell me that I need to vote for "Christian" candidates, who will then stand there with hand raised to God, and swear to uphold the Constitution that protects false gods and false religions in this land, contrary to the Law of God which demands that the false gods and false religions be outlawed in, and purged from, the land. No, I cannot do it. Neither can I yield conscientious obedience to the governors of this land, under the current circumstances.

Again, I love my country. I really do. But until she repents of her whoredoms, I have no choice but to testify against her, and maintain a degree of separation from her.

America, QUIT BOWING DOWN TO ANTICHRIST, AND TURN TO CHRIST THE KING!

Monk-E-Mail Message About Yesterday

About yesterday.

Narrow-minded Covenanters

"Narrow-minded! Breadth may be viewed from various positions. He, who attempts to broaden himself by accepting error, becomes the narrow man. Every error adopted means a truth rejected. This process may continue till the heart is so contracted that there is no room for either God or man. Ah, the irony of such broadness! How different with him who will not surrender a hairbreadth of truth! He is the broad man; broad as the law of God, broad as the Gospel of Christ, broad as the principles of the everlasting Covenant, broad as the kingdom of heaven. Those Covenanters were the broadest men of their day." -- J.C. McFeeters, Sketches of the Covenanters.

Not a Sport

Let's get this straight (a very important word there, straight):

1. If you must get your hair and makeup done for the competition, it is not a sport.

2. If you made your own costume, it's not a sport.

3. If you must strike a dramatic pose and hold it as part of your "routine," it's not a sport.



4. If a romantic movie soundtrack is involved, it's not a sport.

5. Whatever this guy's doing:

NOT A SPORT.

6. Style points? Not a sport.

7. If you can drop your 90 lbs. partner and still win the silver, not a sport.

8. If the commentators repeatedly says things like, "Beautiful!" "Gorgeous!" "He's so eloquent, so flowing," and "[Sigh...] I don't care about his technique, I just love watching him," all the while sounding like an adoring lover, NOT A SPORT.

9. Choreography = Not a sport.

10. If women that don't like any other sport, like it, it's only because it's not a sport.

Gimme more, people.

Parenting

The video is of poor quality, I know. But, I needed to record what it's like in my house (turn the sound up):

Click here to watch 'Daniels-Interogation'

Click here to watch 'Daniel-and-Elisabeth--The-Case-of-the-Wet-Toilet-Paper'

Love in Vain

"It is a vain thing for a man to say he loves God, and slight his commands."

-- Thomas Watson.

This might sound kinda mundane, but...

Today I sat on my porch, and sanded my bo. I've only owned one bo in my life, for 17 plus years now, and it's been gathering various nicks and dings, some of which were causing some splinters. It was such a nice day outside today that I decided to sit down with some sand paper, and remove all the finish on the bo, and smooth out the nicks and dings. I really really enjoyed that. It was almost therapeutic. Next step is to rub it down with some teak oil.

Later, I took the kids to a playground and played tag with them. I had an asthma attack, but it was a good day!

Iniquity of the Holy Things

"And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD" (Exodus 28:38).

Iniquity of the holy things? What a humbling and awesome thought.

"What a veil is lifted up by these words, and what a disclosure is made! It will be humbling and profitable for us to pause awhile and see this sad sight. The iniquities of our public worship, its hypocrisy, formality, lukewarmness, irreverence, wandering of heart and forgetfulness of God, what a full measure have we there! Our work for the Lord, its emulation, selfishness, carelessness, slackness, unbelief, what a mass of defilement is there! Our private devotions, their laxity, coldness, neglect, sleepiness, and vanity, what a mountain of dead earth is there! If we looked more carefully we should find this iniquity to be far greater than appears at first sight." -- Charles H. Spurgeon.

"It is undoubtedly a remarkable passage, whereby, we are taught that nothing proceeds from us pleasing to God except through the intervention of the grace of the Mediator; for here there is no reference to manifest and gross sins, the pardon of which it is clear that we can only obtain through Christ; but the iniquity of the holy oblations was to be taken away and cleansed by the priest.... This is a harsh saying, and almost a paradox, that our very holinesses are so impure as to need pardon; but it must be borne in mind that nothing is so pure as not to contract some stain from us; just as water, which, although it may be drawn in purity from a limpid fountain, yet, if it passes over muddy ground, is tinged by it, and becomes somewhat turbid: thus nothing is so pure in itself as not to be polluted by the contagion of our flesh. Nothing is more excellent than the service of God; and yet the people could offer nothing, even although prescribed by the Law, except with the intervention of pardon, which none but the priest could obtain for them. There is now no sacrifice, nor was there ever, more pleasing to God than the invocation of His name, as He himself declares, 'Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me,' (Psalm 1:15;) yet the Apostle teaches us that 'the sacrifice of praise' only pleases God when it is offered in Christ. (Hebrews 13:15.) Let us learn, then, that our acts of obedience, when they come into God’s sight, are mingled with iniquity, which exposes us to His judgment, unless Christ should sanctify them. In sum, this passage teaches us that whatsoever good works we strive to present to God are so far from deserving reward, that they rather convict us of guilt, unless the holiness of Christ, whereby God is propitiated, obtains pardon for them." -- John Calvin.

So, even in the "holy things," the commanded acts of God's worship, we offer up nothing that is not tainted by our iniquity. Thanks be to God for Christ our High Priest! My question is, if this is true of the worship commanded by God (which are holy things), what of man-invented worship (which cannot be holy things)? Is it not 100% pure filth?

"I've never had a bad day in my life."

I heard a guy say that phrase once. I've had what I'd call bad days. I've had days where I laid flat on the floor wanting to die, I've had days where I was so sick I thought I was going to die, and I've had days where I contemplated how to die.

But so far I have not died, and that being the case, while I would not go so far as saying I've never had a bad day in my life, I will admit that I've never had a day that has been as bad as it could have been.

Today was a bad day. Could have been worse though. It was worse for my brother. Our drunken loved one (not Jesse!) fell and cracked some head and ended up in the hospital. Drunken loved one is due to be released after the blood alcohol level comes down to a legal-ish range (should be at a bout 2:30 am). This hospital visit was just the icing on the cake, as the past three days have involved multiple police intervention, drugs, money being thrown away, cursing and swearing, phone calls to my other loved ones design to destroy relationships, and all kinds of other filth that would make a prostitute blush and ain't fit to print. Well, like I said, my poor brother is getting the brunt of this latest episode, but I'm about all worn out myself too.

But the Lord is good. I'm still alive, and I guess that means the day couldn't have been all that bad.

Jesse, Odd Man Out.

Finding it difficult to accept that he's no longer "the baby," Jesse drinks too much and passes out behind the recliner.

A Big Boy

Gideon Thomas Waybright
Born: January 28th 2006, @ 1633.

9 lbs, 12 oz. 22" long.

Momma and baby are sleeping.

Three things

First, behold the deadly Irukandji!

Only about the size of the finger nail on your little pinky finger, but touching it can lead to weeks of intense pain, coma, and even death! So, small. So deadly. Praise be to God!

Second, what in the world?

"Affectionate chimps nuzzle under the cheerful glow of the candle nestled in the palms overhead." My birthday's coming up next month.

Third, speaking of birthdays...

The contractions started last night, waking up my wife. She took a shower at about 0430, which usually makes the contractions stop when they're the Braxton-Hicks variety. They didn't stop. It's going on 0930, contractions are 5 minutes apart, and the midwife has been notified (that should read, we woke her up before she knew what day it is or who she was, and told her to high tail it over here!). Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I should go boil water and get some towels or something!

Still waiting...

It's almost a week ago now that Rachel had four straight hours of good contractions. They stopped after she took a shower. Well, a visit to the midwife confirms that those contractions did something. She's partially effaced and dialated, and we're just waiting for the moment that God in His Sovereignty has foreordained. Here's something to ponder... every moment has been foreordained by God in His Sovereignty! But I'm talking about the moment that God foreordained in which my newest child will make his entrance into the post-womb world. I'll keep you's posted. You's, that's what we say in Central PA. Western PA has "You'ens" or "Yuns," and of course Josh and his buddy's down in Texarkana say "Ya'll." We just say "you's," and why not? The Germans that settled here had a plural form of "you" distinct from the singular, why can't we?

In other news: Erica says she's working on a knitting project. Ooh! Let me guess...

Could it be? If so, can ya make one for me, too?

Ain't it the truth?

"It is easier to be sound and Orthodox, than to be Godly, Sathan in a manner soundly believes there is one God, Jam. 2.19. and that Christ is the Son of God, Luke 4:34. and so doeth the carnall Jew teach that it is not lawfull to steal, to commit adultery, Rom. 2.21,22." -- Samuel Rutherfurd. The Covenant of Life Opened, Part I, Ch. XII.

It is easier to be sound and orthodox than to be godly. Yes, yes it is.

May the Lord be gracious and merciful to His people, and cause His face to shine upon them. Amen.

Fairwell, virtual-bro.john!

Well, he finally went and did it. Bro. John has dropped out of the world wide web. And you know what? I can't say I blame him. I stop and think sometimes... If I didn't have "a web presence" (as John put it), I wouldn't get hate mail, I wouldn't get into nearly so many arguments with folks, and I believe I might be more peaceful in my mind. As I'm about to change some of my links (cuz some of them were to John's now kaput sites), I wonder how some people do it. Take one of my new favorite bloggers, Paul Manata, for example. He can be found at various times writing detailed and careful logical arguments and refutations against atheists, hyper-preterists, and all kinds of commenters on his blog. How does the man find the time to interact with all these people? I have emails that are months old that have fallen into the "I'll get to it when I have the time" file. But time is not the only issue. How 'bout the mental stress? I get stressed out arguing with every Jack Knowitall that comes across a blog entry or a post or whatever that I've written. It drives me nuts sometimes. Some people do it well, like I believe Paul M. does. Me? Oh, I don't know. I've not been on my best behavior on the web, for sure. And I'm not proud of that.

Then I get to thinking of all the friends, virtual and actual, virtually actual, and actually virtual, that I've come across by way of the World Wide Web. Oh, I've found some enemies too, sure. But man, the friends... I wouldn't give a one of them back. Thanks web-friends! 'Sup Josh! Hey Jason and Liz! Thinking about ya, DJ. What do ya say, Shawn! How can I forget Whiskeyfoxypoptart and sister Okiedokiesmokiejo! SusanandCrew meet Bander! I know I didn't name everyone, but I love ya anyway. Yeah, I guess it's worth it. I'll stick around a little while.

In other news: The new baby is due 1/28, that's not too far away. SO QUICK, GIVE US SOME NAMES FOR THIS CHILD!

Speaking of philosophy, I've been wanting to bone up on some good Christian philosophy. I've read, and listened to, some debates recently, including the Great Debate. I also just finished reading Gordon H. Clark's Three Types of Religious Philosophy, except for the last page, WHICH IS MISSING IN MY COPY! Someone send me the last page please. Now, before people jump on my case over the Van Til/Clark thing, just hold up. I don't know much about the whole thing, and I've not framed an opinion as of yet. I'm a noob, understand? At this point I just want some basic Christian Philosophy to read or listen too. Pointers?

Back to Bro. John. Now that he's left the virtual world, and is spending much more time in the real world, I suppose it's time for me to be a real friend to him. Someone once sang, "I've been one poor correspondent. I've been too too hard to find." Yep, that's me. It's high time I give him a call, and meet up with my ol' pal the good old fashioned way... in real life.

I was holding out like a champ...

Until today I barfed like a maniac. It was gross, you should've seen it. I think I hurt my neck.

Ugh, I don't feel good.

People, get ready... there's a blaaaaarrrrrgggg

It's hard to count how many barf sessions happened last night/early this morning. For a while there, it was every hour on the hour -- I'm counting three kids that have it now... Calle first, then Cole, now Elisabeth. My breakfast today consists of a cup of chai, and that's it, cuz I'm feeling funny now too. Poor Rachel... due to give birth this month, and feeling bad in her stomach (which is no longer located in the normal area on account of being so preggers). I'm planning on going to work, but I'm a bit frightened about that -- the vomitting that is happening thusfar in the household has been sudden, violent, with olympic-style distance involved. I'm envisioning....

ME: So what brings you in today? What can we help you with?

CLIENT: Well, I've been so depressed for the past few weeks, that I'm having thoughts of sui-- (interupted)

ME: BAAAAAAALLLLLLLAAAAAAAGGGGRRROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAA!!!! BUUUUUUUIIIIIIIICCCCKKKKK! RRRRRRAAAAALLLLLFFFFFF!!!! Oh, I'm so sorry. We'll get that cleaned up for you. Excuse me, I have to leave now.

Oh, may it not happen!

IN OTHER NEWS: I've been feeling pretty down lately, and having trouble sleeping too. It's been, like, maybe 5 nights now of not sleeping well. Seems like a lot of things I don't like thinking about are being brought up again, from several different sources, all at once.

"I haven't known peace and quiet for so long I can't remember what it's like."

That's right, Bob Dylan. I know what you're talking about. "Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your mouth." Tell my about it, Bob. Tell me about it.

So, back to my chai, and off to work. Bound to be an adventurous day at home and abroad!

Christopher Love's quote (Louis' comment)

Remember this for your comfort: if you conscientiously make use of those means that the Lord has sanctified for the mortifying of your sins, then, even if, notwithstanding all, your sins prevail over and overcome you, in this case the Lord will hold you guiltless. I might urge that place to you which I quoted the Last Lord's Day concerning the law of God touching a damsel in Deuteronomy 22:25-27, which was that the adulterer should be put to death. But, God says, if the damsel was walking in the field and a man came to her and defiled her, if she strove against him and cried out, then the damsel shall be guiltless, but the man shall die the death.

When the devil spiritually rapes you, if your soul can bear you witness that you cried out to God for help, and struggled and strove against the corruption with all your might and strength to suppress and keep them under, and yet you could not prevail but the devil overmatched you, in this case know that God will count you guiltless.

-- Christopther Love. The Mortified Christian, Sermon 7.

Dutiful and honest reader Louis comments,

That sounds like something I've heard before... "The devil made me do it"?

1 Cor. 10:13 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Maybe I'm reading Love or the Scripture wrong, but don't those two disagree? I read one as saying God won't allow us to be tempted above our ability to resist, hence sin in man is his own fault; and I read Love as saying that sometimes Satan can overcome us with temptation and it's not OUR fault.

I think a more accurate example (again, if I understand these two correctly, which I very well may not) for Satan overpowering us would be the case of a woman being extremely tempted to fornicate, instead of being forced.

Good question, Louis. First, note that Mr. Love does not deny that the one overcome is sinning, as he affirms "notwithstanding all, your sins prevail over and overcome you." What he is saying, is that even though you've fallen into sin, if you have done so fighting against sin every inch of the way, and yet were still overcome due to the weakness of your flesh, and the strength of Satan, the Lord (says Love) will not hold you guilty. This is not the same thing as saying sin is not our fault. Second, these comments are made in the middle of a series of sermons on mortification. He brings up this comfortable doctrine towards those poor souls who might be despairing that they have no true mortification since they fell into such and such a sin. I say this lest anyone think that Love is simply excusing people's sins. He had just spent a good while telling people that think they are mortified that they were not mortified!

I take Love to be saying that there are times when a Christian can have a degree of mortification, and yet sometimes can fall into a sin against which he earnestly strove, but this is not evidence that he is not mortified, but only that there remains weakness in his flesh, for which the Lord pities, rather than condemns, the believer.

"The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" -- Matt. 26:41.

That he may not terrify and discourage his disciples, he gently reproves their slothfulness, and adds consolation and good ground of hope. And, first, he reminds them, that though they are earnestly desirous to do what is right, still they must contend with the weakness of the flesh, and, therefore, that prayer is never unnecessary. We see, then, that he gives them the praise of willingness, in order that their weakness may not throw them into despair, and yet urges them to prayer, because they are not sufficiently endued with the power of the Spirit. Wherefore, this admonition relates properly to believers, who, being regenerated by the Spirit of God, are desirous to do what is right, but still labor under the weakness of the flesh; for though the grace of the Spirit is vigorous in them, they are weak according to the flesh. And though the disciples alone have their weakness here pointed out to them, yet, since what Christ says of them applies equally to all, we ought to draw from it a general rule, that it is our duty to keep diligent watch by praying; for we do not yet possess the power of the Spirit in such a measure as not to fall frequently through the weakness of the flesh, unless the Lord grant his assistance to raise up and uphold us.

-- John Calvin, Harmony of the Gospels Vol. 3.

"For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." -- Rom. 7:15-17.

You must not understand that it was always the case with him, that he could not do good; but what he complains of is only this — that he could not perform what he wished, so that he pursued not what was good with that alacrity which was meet, because he was held in a manner bound, and that he also failed in what he wished to do, because he halted through the weakness of the flesh. Hence the pious mind performs not the good it desires to do, because it proceeds not with due activity, and doeth the evil which it would not; for while it desires to stand, it falls, or at least it staggers. But the expressions to will and not to will must be applied to the Spirit, which ought to hold the first place in all the faithful.

The flesh indeed has also its own will, but Paul calls that the will which is the chief desire of the heart; and that which militates with it he represents as being contrary to his will....

This is not the pleading of one excusing himself, as though he was blameless, as the case is with many triflers who think that they have a sufficient defense to cover all their wickedness, when they cast the blame on the flesh; but it is a declaration, by which he shows how very far he dissented from his own flesh in his spiritual feeling; for the faithful are carried along in their obedience to God with such fervour of spirit that they deny the flesh.

This passage also clearly shows, that Paul speaks here of none but of the godly, who have been already born again; for as long as man remains like himself, whatsoever he may be, he is justly deemed corrupt; but Paul here denies that he is wholly possessed by sin; nay, he declares himself to be exempt from its bondage, as though he had said, that sin only dwelt in some part of his soul, while with an earnest feeling of heart he strove for and aspired after the righteousness of God, and clearly proved that he had the law of God engraven within him.

-- John Calvin, Commentary on Romans 7:14-17.

Well, I hope that helps.

Thoughts on this are appreciated.

On Public Repentence

"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion,
and sound an alarm in my holy
mountain: let all the inhabitants
of the land tremble: for the day
of the LORD cometh, for it is
nigh at hand," (Joel 2:1).

"...[T]his passage shows that when any judgment of God is impending, and tokens of it appear, this remedy ought to be used, namely, that all must publicly assemble and confess themselves worthy of punishments and at the same time flee to the mercy of God. This, we know, was, as I have already said, formerly enjoined on the people; and this practice has not been abolished by the gospel. And it hence appears how much we have departed from the right and lawful order of things; for at this day it would be new and unusual to proclaim a fast. How so? Because the greater part are become hardened; and as they know not commonly what repentance is, so they understand
not what the profession of repentance means; for they understand not what sin is, what the wrath of God is, what grace is. It is then no wonder that they are so secure, and that when praying for pardon is mentioned, it is a thing wholly unknown at this day. But though people in general are thus stupid, it is yet our duty to learn from the Prophets what has always been the actual mode of proceeding among the people of God, and to labor as much as we can, that this may be known, so that when there shall come an occasion for a public repentance, even the most ignorant may understand that this practice has ever prevailed in the Church of God, and that it did not prevail through inconsiderate zeal of men, but through the will of God himself."

~~John Calvin, Commentary on the Prophet Joel, Lecture Forty-First (Joel 2:1-11).

Quick Update

To everyone who prayed, and who has been praying, for my father and for me, thank you so very very much.

My dad was released from the hospital today, and a friend picked him up and took him back home to the mountains of Virginia. Good news is he's stable enough to be discharged, bad news is... well, now he's alone in the mountains of Virginia. The plan is to arrange some in-home nursing for a while until he can get up and about on his own. For now, he's pretty much restricted to his bed, except for some treacherous ventures to the bathroom or other such short and brief trips (well, let's hope not "trips," as I can picture him falling and laying there for a long time, which would not be good).

Well, that's all I got right now.

In other news: A lady I talked to today, who was, oh, let's just say not quite in her right mind, made an odd comment to me. She said that Thomas Aquinas wrote that it was ok to commit fornication if the purpose was to keep you from freezing. She said Aquinas said that would be no sin. I never heard that... I'm only familiar with Augustin's comments on rape. Does anyone have a clue on this one?

What to do for my Dad?

My dad came up to PA from VA today -- the plan was for him to (get this) go 4-wheeling with his brother (my uncle) during the day, and then come over to our place so we could all go out to eat together. Sounds nice, but I'll give you some time to think about part-1 of this plan....

and...

about...

what...

might...

possibly...

go...

awry...

(pausing for you to think)...

If you came up with "Dad gets crushed by 4-wheeler," YOU'RE CORRECT!!!

My 57 year old father flipped the 4-wheeler, and it landed right on top of him. He's now laying, heavily medicated, in an Emergency Room about 2 hours north of me, with 4 broken ribs (2 on each side), a broken clavicle, a separated shoulder, and a punctured lung. I'm not quite sure what to do. Dad's got his truck and 4-wheeler up here at my uncle's place, but he has 2 dogs back at his place down in Virginia (is someone taking care of them?), and he has a job down there (do I have to call someone about his not coming to work?). Other questions include, "How long will he be in the hospital?" "Will he be able to take care of himself after discharge?" and "How do we get him and his vehicles down to Virginia?" He's pretty snowed by the meds right now, so he's not able to answer my questions at this point. I already called off work for tomorrow, as I'm going to have to drive a bit to see him. I'm sitting here feeling like I should jump to action, but I have no clue what to do.

Some prayer would be nice, ok?

Look, the Pope is just creepy.

Ok, at this point I'm pretty much convinced that the Pope can show up in public with a literal "666" stamped on his forehead, in full view, and still no one would get it!

And no, it's not just the creepy picture. It's the fact that the title the Pope bears, Vicar of Christ, is essentially the Latin equivilant of the Greek "AntiChristos," and yet his identity remains hidden. It's the disgusting reality of what the Mass he's pimping really is. It's the fact that he changes times and laws (I like to ask folks who wish me a Merry Christmas, "Who told you it was Christmas?" -- They never seem to have an answer. The correct answer is the Pope), just as predicted; that he sits in the Temple of God as if he is God, just as predicted, and yet...

We just don't get it.

Purple

I am sore today. But that's ok, because I passed my belt testing last night. And by "belt testing," I mean "tortuous ordeal of pain and screaming." My legs shook involuntarily, but I got it done, and am now beginning to sniff at the elusive black belt. Next up, brown belt.

For now though, rest. Rest, and be available more for other things, like family and friends, answering all my hate mail, and trying to figure out what happened to Erica's big ski adventure that just disappeared!

Ouch.... I'm going to wobble to the kitchen and make coffee. I hope nobody attacks me today, cuz I'm too sore to do anything about it!

--edit--

Forgot to mention that the kids graduated to new belt levels too!

(turn the sound down, many will no doubt find the music irritating... though maybe it will PUMP YOU UP? lol.)

Here's Cole busting two boards like they were nothing with a palm-heel strike at belt graduation.

How 'bout Conner drilling "down-block, punch" at his graduation?

And, Calle smashes through one board with a palm-heel strike!

Speaking of Calle, watch her roll this girl in class... they were working on defenses against the "ground and pound" type of attack. My camera putted out just before she broke her partner's guard (see how the girl has her legs wrapped around Calle? That's "the guard."). Calle and her partner are right smack dab in the middle of the room.

Keep practicing, kids.

On Family Worship

From James Fisher's The Shorter Catechism Explained:

---

QUESTION 60. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?

ANSWER: The Sabbath is to be sanctified, by a holy resting on that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.

---

Q. 25. What is family worship?

A. It is the daily joining of all that are united in a domestic relation, or who are dwelling together in the same house and family, in singing God's praises, Acts 2:47 reading his word, Deut. 6:7, and praying to him, Jer. 10:25.

Q. 26. How do you prove family worship to be a duty daily incumbent upon those who have families?

A. From scripture precept, and from scripture example.

Q. 27. How is family worship evinced from scripture precept?

A. Besides that this commandment enjoins every master of a family to sanctify the Sabbath within his gates, that is, to worship God in his family; there are also other scriptures, inculcating the same thing, by necessary consequence; such as, Eph. 6:18 -- "Praying always, with ALL prayer and supplication;" 1 Tim. 2:8 -- "I will therefore that men pray EVERY WHERE. "If with all prayer, then surely with family prayer; if EVERY WHERE, then certainly in our families.

Q. 28. What are the examples of family worship recorded in scripture for our imitation?

A. Among others, there are the examples of Abraham, Gen. 18:19; of Joshua, chap. 24:15 -- "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord;" of David, 2 Sam. 6:20; or Cornelius, Acts 10:2; and especially the example of our blessed Lord, whom we find singing psalms, Matt. 26:30, and praying with his disciples, who were his family, Luke 9:18.

Q. 29. What should be the subject matter of family catechising?

A. What they have been hearing through the day, together with the principles of our religion, as laid out in the Shorter Catechism, with the helps that are published upon the same, which masters of families ought to use for their assistance in this work.

I do karate because...

It helps me to RELAX!!!!!

Anytime I walk into my karate school, from this time forward, I may be plucked, and told it's time for my test. And I feel like I could just throw up. I mean, I'm a nervous wreck. Nice. I take karate because it helps me relieve stress... lol!

On Reading Books, Good Books, Reading Them Well.

If a man can purchase but very few books, my first advice to him would be, let him purchase the very best. If he cannot spend much, let him spend well. The best will always be the cheapest. Leave mere dilutions and attenuations to those who can afford such luxuries. Do not buy milk and water, but get condensed milk, and put what water you like to it yourself. This age is full of word-spinners, professional book-makers, who hammer a grain of matter so thin that it will cover a five-acre sheet of paper; these men have their uses, as gold-beaters have, but they are of no use to you. Farmers on our coast used to cart wagon-loads of seaweed and put them upon their land; the heaviest part was the water; now they dry the weeds, and save a world of labor and expense. Don't buy thin soup; buy the essence of meat. Get much in little. Prefer books which abound in what Dr. James Hamilton used to call "Bibline," or the essence of books. You require accurate, condensed, reliable, standard books, and should make sure that you get them....

Forego, then, without regret, the many books which, like poor Hodge's razors, of famous memory, "are made to sell," and do sell those who buy them, as well as themselves. Matthew Henry's Commentary having been mentioned, I venture to say that no better investment can be made, by any minister, than that peerless exposition. Get it, if you sell your coat to buy it.

The next rule I shall lay down is, master those books you have. Read them thouroughly. Bathe in them until they saturate you. Read and re-read them, masticate them, and digest them. Let them go into your very self. Peruse a good book several times, and make notes and analyses of it. A student will find that his mental constitution is more affected by one book thoroughly mastered than by twenty books which he has merely skimmed, lapping at them, as the classic proverb puts it "as the dogs drink of Nilus." Little learning and much pride come of hasty reading. Books may be piled on the brain till it cannot work. Some men are disabled from thinking by their putting meditation away for the sake of much reading. They gorge themselves with book-matter, and become mentally dyspeptic.

Books on the brain cause disease. Get the book into the brain, and you will grow.

~~C.H. Spurgeon, To Workers with Slender Apparatus.

Jesse Clip

Goofing around with our new camera -- it takes brief video clips, which is cool.

The Shotgun Won (Oops, I ruined the ending!)

Ever wonder what gun would be most handy when you lost the key or forgot the combination? This guy answers the age old question: Which gun is best for blasting a lock open.

England Daniel, Coffee and Sobaheg

Hello,
Yeah, it's been a while.
Not much.
How 'bout you?

Anyone else remember England Dan and John Ford Coley? Fast fact: England Dan's last name is Seals. Dan Seals. His brother, Jim Seals, was one half of Seals and Croft, of "Summer Breeze" fame. "Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing throught the jasmine in my mind." Ahh, who cares!

I'm just stopping in with a thought about my boy Daniel. Daniel likes to hand out compliments. To his mom, he says things like, "Mom, I love you. You're so beautiful. You look so pretty when you wear dresses." Well, today, Daniel said to me, "Dad, you're really big. You could stomp on somebody." And I'm like, (in my best Arkansas Josh accent), "Dern straight, boy. You best not forget it neither!"

Wanna know the secret to my "Winter Blend" coffee? I know it's not winter yet, but there's some snow on the ground, and it's cold, hence IT'S WINTER. So, we've been using a percolator thingy to make coffee, and it makes the best coffee ever. Pay attention, Brother John. This will make you love coffee. I put the coffee grounds in just like you ordinarily would. Then a half a spoon or so of Hazelnut coffee (not too much, we ain't making Hazelnut coffee!). Then, right on the grounds, sprinkle some Cinnamon, some Pumpkin Spice, and some Nutmeg. Again, not alot, just some. Percolate that and enjoy the smell. Pour your cup, smell it some more. Mmm... then add your sugar, cream, whatever you like to do. Oooh, so good. In the words of Robert Johnson, "The stuff I got'll bust your brains out, baby, wooo hooo!"

In other news: Had a bout with a stomach thingy the other day. Knocked me down for about 24 hours. But when I recovered, my pectoral injury was HEALED. So, back to the pushups, I only have a month left to get in the tippy topiest shape I've ever been in. No more 465 pushups a day though, I don't want to hurt myself again.

Ok, raise your hand... who's having Sobaheg today?

She's Three.

Now I went and did it...

Tonight I had to stop at 165 pushups because I injured myself! My left... well, everything related to my chest and arm hurt, like I pulled my pec. Can you pull a pec? I don't even know.

In other news: I was cold today. So cold that I put on long johns this morning. As I was putting them on, I thought, "It's a shame. John is a fine name. And yet it is used as a nickname for many things that just aren't worthy of the name: Underwear, toilets, people who employ prostitutes. What's up with that?" I like the name John. I like some guys name John. But I was cold today, and what was I supposed to do.

Let's Go, Covies.

Covenanters, here's a chance to show your good side! :)

A Covenanter challenge: Let us know what makes you a True Covenanter.

"You who call yourselves Covenanters, how do you endeavor to keep the Covenants? What are you doing to meet the ends of the Covenants? What makes you a true Covenanter, personally? ecclesiastically?"

I've been thinking about this for a number of days now, and it has been challenging and convicting to me, as I see how many ways I fail to meet up to my profession. I plan on posting a response when I have some decent time to sit and organize my thoughts on the matter.

If you feel so inclined to challenge yourself, and the rest of us as well, head on over to the Covenanted Reformation Club and add your two cents on how you, today, endeavor to keep the National Covenant and the Solemen League and Covenant.

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (Heb. 10:24).

This week in review

I sure don't seem to have the time I used to. Between work, family life, and working out, I just don't have the time to write stuff much anymore. Maybe in a way that's good. My "Christianity," as I practiced it for a couple years, helped me to grow out of shape and wise in my own eyes. Now, after some difficult but necessary life lessons, I'm less apt to think I got something you people need to hear, and I stopped just sitting around pigging out. I'm much less quiet, but way more active, now. Anyway, this week is interesting to me for a few reasons.

First, Tuesday was election day. In Dover, PA., a somewhat local town (York County), the folks decided that "Intelligent Design," a watered down compromise stopping far too short of Biblical Creationism, was intolerable and ought not to be suggested to our children. Every school counsel member that was up for re-election that supported Intelligent Design was voted out, in favor of people who promised to offer only Ignorant Design (evolution) to the children in the Dover School District. Pat Robertson offers this in response: "If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God. You just rejected him from your city, and don't wonder why he hasn't helped you when problems begin."

And, just to clarify what he meant, Robertson explained, "I was simply stating that our spiritual actions have consequences and it's high time we started recognizing it. God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in his eye forever. If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin ... maybe he can help them."

Let's just quit kidding around. Schools need to adopt a statement like the following before I will beging taking them seriously:

"... as God, from the infinity of his being and goodness, has communicated a finite created existence to all other beings, framing them with natures wisely suited and adapted to the different ends of their creation; so by the same all-powerful word whereby they were at first created, he preserves and upholds all his creatures in their beings, and by the incessant care and invariable conduct of his divine providence, does constantly direct and overrule them, and all their actions unto his own glory; according to divine revelation; Gen. 1, throughout; Col. 1:16; Rom. 11:36; Psal. 145:17, and 33:9; and 119:91; Heb. 1:2,3; Confess. chap. 4,5; larger Cat. quest. 11; short Cat. quest. 8." -- Act, Declaration, and Testimony for the Whole of Our Covenanted Reformation.

Second, yesterday, November 10th, was Martin Luther's birthday. May God send another man like this to thunder and to shake the world to Reformation.

Third, yesterday, November 10th, was the 30 year anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The 729-foot long 13,632 ton freighter was caught in an awful storm, and it, along with 29 men, sank in Lake Superior. It is my understanding that not one body was ever recovered.

"'Superior,' they said,
'never gives up her dead
when the gales of November come early.'"
~Gordon Lightfoot.

Missed it by THAT much.

Oh, now that's a bummer!

Sometimes...

I feel really anxious, kinda scared, like I want to cry....

And I'm not sure why.

10% girl?

You Are 90% Boyish and 10% Girlish

You have a tough exterior - and usually a tough interior to match it. You're no nonsense, logical, and very assertive. Sometimes you can't understand women at all, even if you're a woman yourself. You see things rationally, and don't like to let your emotions get the best of you.

How Boyish or Girlish Are You?

Yeah, ok... 10% girlish, what because I don't curse like a sailor? That's BU*~&#$@!
I'm working on 465 pushups TONIGHT. (did over 1100 total last week).

A Letter of Samuel Rutherford on Being a Christian in Tough Times

DEARLY BELOVED IN THE LORD, AND PARTAKERS OF THE HEAVENLY CALLING.- Grace, mercy, and peace be to you, from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

I always, but most of all now in my bonds (most sweet bonds for Christ my Lord) rejoice to hear of your faith and love; and that persecutions and dockings of sinners have not chased away the Wooer from the house. I persuade you in the Lord that the men of God, now scattered and driven from you, put you upon the right scent and pursuit of Christ; and my salvation on it (if ten heavens were mine) if this way, this way that I now suffer for, this way that the world nicknameth and reproacheth, and no other way, be not the King's gate to heaven. And I shall never see God's face (and, alas, I were a beguiled wretch if it were so!) if this be not the only saving way to heaven. Oh that you would take a prisoner for Christ's word for it (nay, I know you have the greatest King's word for it), that it shall not be your wisdom to speer out another Christ, or another way of worshipping Him, than is now savingly revealed to you. Therefore, though I never saw your faces, let me be pardoned to write to you, if possibly I could, by any weak experience, confirm and strengthen you in this good way, everywhere spoken against. I can with the greatest assurance (to the honor of our highest, and greatest, and dearest Lord, let it be spoken!) assert (though I be but a child in Christ, and scarce able to walk but by a hold, and the meanest, and less than the least of saints), that we do not come nigh, by twenty degrees, to the due love and estimation of that fairest among the sons of men. Therefore, faint not in your sufferings and hazards for Him. Where can we find a match to Christ, or an equal, or a better than He, among created things? Oh this world is out of all conceit, and all love, with our Well-beloved. Oh that I could sell my laughter, joy, ease, and all for Him, and be content with a straw bed, and bread by weight, and water by measure, in the camp of our weeping Christ! I know that His sackcloth and ashes are better than the fool's laughter, which is like the crackling of thorns under a pot. But, alas! we do not harden our faces against the cold north storms which blow upon Christ's fair face. We love well summer-religion, and to be that which sin has made us, even as thin-skinned as if we were made of white paper; and would fain be carried to heaven in a close-covered chariot, wishing from our hearts that Christ would give us surety, and His handwrite, and His seal, or nothing but a fair summer until we be landed in at heaven's gates! How many of us have been here deceived, and have fainted in the day of trial! Amongst you there are some of this stamp. I shall be sorry if my acquaintance A.T. has left you: I will not believe that he dare to stay away from Christ's side. I desire that ye show him this from me; for I loved him once in Christ, neither can I change my mind suddenly of him. But the truth is, that many of you, and too many also of your neighbor Church of Scotland, have been like a tenant that sitteth mail-free and knoweth not his holding whill his rights be questioned. And now I am persuaded, that it will be asked at every one of us, on what terms we brook Christ; for we have sitten long mail-free. Many take but half a grip of Christ, and the wind bloweth them and Christ asunder. Indeed, when the mast is broken and blown into the sea, it is an art then to swim upon Christ to dry land. It is even possible that the children of God, in a hard trial, lay themselves down as hidden in the lee-side of a bush whill Christ their Master be taken, as Peter did; and lurk there, whill the storm be over-past. All of us know the way to a whole skin; and the singlest heart that is has a by-purse that will contain the denial of Christ, and a fearful backsliding. Oh, how rare a thing it is to be loyal and honest to Christ, when He has a controversy with the shields of the earth! I wish all of you would consider, that this trial is from Christ; it is come upon you unbought. Do not now joule, or bow, or yield to your adversaries in a hair-breadth. Christ and His truth will not divide; and His truth has not latitude and breadth, that ye may take some of it and leave other some of it. It is not possible to twist and compound a matter betwixt Christ and Antichrist; and, therefore, ye must either be for Christ, or ye must be against Him. I know and am persuaded that Christ shall again be high and great in this poor, withered and sun-burnt Kirk of Scotland; and that the sparks of our fire shall fly over the sea and round about to warm you and other sister churches; and that this tabernacle of David's house, that is fallen, even the Son of David's waste places, shall be built again. And I know the prison, crosses, persecutions and trials of the two slain witnesses that are now dead and buried (Rev. 11.9) and of the faithful professors, have a back-door and back-entry of escape; and that death and hell and the world and the tortures shall all cleave and split in twain, and give us free passage and liberty to go through toll-free: and we shall bring all God's good metal out of the furnace again, and leave behind us but our dross and scum. We may then beforehand proclaim Christ to be victorious. He is crowned King of Mount Zion: God did put the crown upon His head (Ps. 2.6; 21.3) and who dare take it off again? Two special things ye are to mind: First, try and make sure your profession; that ye carry not empty lamps. Alas! security, security is the bane and wrack of the most part of the world. Oh how many professors go with a golden lustre, and are gold-like before men (who are but witnesses to our white skin) and yet are but bastard and base metal! False under water, not seen, is dangerous, and that is a leak and rift in the bottom of an enlightened conscience; often failing and sinning against light. Woe is me that the holy profession of Christ is made a stage garment by many, to bring home a vain fame, and Christ is made to serve men's ends. Know, secondly, except men martyr and slay the body of sin in sanctified self-denial, they shall never be Christ's martyrs and faithful witnesses. Oh if I could be master of that house-idol myself, my own mind, my own will, wit, credit, and ease, how blessed were I! Oh, but we have need to be redeemed from ourselves, rather than from the devil and the world! O wretched idol, myself! when shall I see thee wholly decourted, and Christ wholly put in thy room? Oh, if Christ, Christ had the full place and room of myself, that all my aims, purposes, thoughts, and desires would coast and land upon Christ, and not upon myself! And howbeit we cannot attain to this denial of me and mine, that we can say, 'I am not myself, myself is not myself, mine own is no longer mine own', yet our aiming at this in all we do shall be accepted: for alas! I think I shall die but minting and aiming to be a Christian. Is it not our comfort, that Christ, the Mediator of the New Covenant, is come betwixt us and God in the business, so that green and young heirs, the like of sinners, have now a Tutor that is God! And now, God be thanked, our salvation is bottomed on Christ. Sure I am, the bottom shall never fall out of heaven and happiness to us. I would give over the bargain a thousand times, were it not that Christ's free grace has taken our salvation in hand. Pray, pray and contend with the Lord, for your sister church; for it would appear that the Lord is about to speer for His scattered sheep, in the dark and cloudy day. Oh that it would please our Lord to set up again David's old wasted and fallen tabernacle in Scotland, that we might see the glory of the second temple in this land! And, howbeit He has caused the blossom to fall off my one poor joy, that was on this side of heaven, even my liberty to preach Christ to His people, yet I am dead to that now, so that He would hew and carve glory, glory for evermore, to my royal King out of my silence and sufferings. I entreat you earnestly for the aid of your prayers, for I forget not you; and I salute, with my soul in Christ, the faithful pastors, and honorable and worthy professors in that land. Now the God of peace, that brought again our Lord Jesus from the dead, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight. Grace, grace be with you.

ABERDEEN, Feb. 4, 1638

Real Quick

My computer's been shutting off unannounced, so that I often lose unsaved stuff as I'm typing, thus making it very difficult to email, post stuff on my blog, and consistently send posts to Calvin's Corner. So, I don't have much time to quickly post here and say "Hey everybody! How's it going?"

Cha-ching!

My blog is worth $10,726.26.
How much is your blog worth?