Who Does God Save?

We studied the conversion of the Apostle Paul (Saul) last week. Of all people, he is possibly the most unlikely candidate for salvation. Yet, God in His infinite wisdom/sovereignty, took the very man that gave approval to--possibly even orchestrated--Stephen's execution (Acts 7) and converted him into one of the most influential individuals Christianity has ever known. The man who was set on wiping out the movement referred to as "The Way," ended up authoring 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament.

So what does that say about the kinds of people God saves? He saves:

• people who hate Him and changes them into people that love Him by taking their "heart of stone" and giving them a "heart of flesh."
• blasphemers and turns them into people who boldly speak the "name that is above all names."
• violent aggressors and molds them into peacemakers.
• ignorant people and gives them wisdom/discernment.
• people that are merciless and shows them mercy.
• unbelievers and transforms them into believers.
• enemies of God and makes them His friends.
• those who are condemned and redeems them.
• the unworthy and justifies them in Christ.
• fornicators, idolators, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, extortioners...(1 Cor 6:11)
• people like me and you!

Friday Photo...Finally

It's been a while since I've blogged, i.e. actually sat down and wrote something of my own.

We're getting ready to go on a trip to Northern California...if it doesn't burn to the ground by the time we get there! We're pretty pumped--we're going to drive Hwy 1 along the coast. We've got reservations one night at The Tides Inn of Shelter Cove; we're also planning on visiting Fisherman's Warf in San Francisco. I've been cleaning up the hard drive on my laptop and formatting all of my memory cards for the camera in preparation for the trip. There are several lighthouses along the route we hope to see, as well the Redwoods. Lots of pictures soon!

Friday Photo

I shot this picture on my way through the Denver airport this past Spring. I was on my way to the Shepherds' Conference.

The Founders Are Coming

The 2008 National Founders Conference is coming to Bethel Baptist Church in Owasso, OK. Beginning Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 PM, we will be live streaming the preaching sessions. To watch, go here.

Welcome Comrades!

Barack Obama is quoted saying: "...Globalization and technology and automation all weaken the position of workers," he said, and a strong government hand is needed to assure that wealth is distributed more equitably..." (emphasis mine) (Source: Wall Street Journal)

An Obama supporter I was talking with recently stated: "...the gulf between rich and poor is becoming wider every year, and much of this is due to policies implemented by the president and the Republican congress (pre-2007)"

It's pronounced marks iz m.

Subcommittee Vote (More Idiots)

From Glenn Beck:

So why IS gas so darn expensive? There are a lot of reasons, but somehow the biggest problem (as usual) points directly to Washington DC. Democrats yesterday in a subcommittee voted basically to kill going to the outer continental shelf to drill for oil because there are 'other things we can do'. Glenn would like to introduce you to the people who are preventing us from drilling here at home, because, as Glenn says, these people should be famous. When the pitchforks and torches start coming out---we'd like to help clarify who was for or against us.

Voted AGAINST:

• Chair: Norman D. Dicks (WA)
• James P. Moran (VA)
• Maurice D. Hinchey (NY)
• John W. Olver (MA)
• Alan B. Mollohan (WV)
• Tom Udall (NM)
• Ben Chandler (KY)
• Ed Pastor (AZ)
• Dave Obey (WI), Ex Officio

VOTED FOR:

• Minority Ranking Member - Todd Tiahrt (KS)
• John E. Peterson (PA)
• Jo Ann Emerson (MO)
• Virgil H. Goode, Jr. (VA)
• Ken Calvert (CA)
• Jerry Lewis (CA), Ex Officio

Related news here.

Hogs 'N' Hot Rods

Most Saturdays during the summer, my youngest son goes (actually I take him) to his grandparent's house and mows their lawn. They pay him, so he's happy about that. They still live in the same town (Collinsville, OK) where my wife and I grew up, so it's kinda fun sometimes to just drive through town and see how things have changed.

Main Street has changed quite a bit; where there used to be clothing and grocery stores, there are now "flea markets" and antique stores. Many of the "mom and pop" stores are long gone, victims of the Wal-Mart that was built right outside the city limits several years ago and due to a period where it seemed like everyone was moving away to other cities/areas. Butch Cribbett still has a hardware store on Main; it used to be a "Western Auto"--it's "True Value" now, I think. But, things are looking up. They have a young mayor (he grew up there as well) with lots of ideas for revitalization.

Several years ago--after we had moved to a nearby town, a bar/restaurant that catered to bikers came and set up shop on Main Street . I don't know much about the place or what made them think that Collinsville would be a good place to put in a business, but it's apparently worked for them. One of the things they did was start an annual event they call "Hogs 'N' Hot Rods." For the past few years, downtown (6 blocks) is blocked off and motorcycle and hot rod enthusiasts fill the streets. There are food and beer vendors and all kinds of booths with just about everything you can imagine, as well as "hog/hot rod" attire--related items. Both sides of the street are lined with hot rods and restored classic cars, as well as choppers and touring bikes. Some of the paint jobs on the choppers and cars is absolutely incredible.

I'm not a big bike or hot rod fan, but I couldn't resist taking a stroll through the festivities after dropping Alex off. I had thrown my camera in the truck just in case I stumbled onto something "photo worthy." I spent a couple of hours just walking up and down the street, admiring the cars and bikes and snapping pictures. Even bought myself a JUMBO corn dog. It was a nice, relaxing --and different-- way to spend the morning. Some of the pics are below. You can see more here.

Idiots

Obama and McCain are idiots! They think you and I are idiots, too.

At a town hall meeting last week in Philadelphia John McCain was asked for his position on drilling in ANWR and elsewhere. He said that he opposed drilling in ANWR for the same reason that he "would not drill in the Grand Canyon... I believe this area should be kept pristine." (Proposed oil and gas exploration in ANWR would only affect 2,000 of its 19 million acres, or 0.01 percent.) So how many people are we keeping this area "pristine" for!? According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge which lies in the northeast corner of Alaska) receives approximately 1000 to 1500 visitors per year...compared to approximately 5 MILLION visitors at the Grand Canyon!

Obama thinks the solution is found in biofuels. Has no one ever told that knucklehead about the oil shale in Colorado or the huge coal deposits in Montana or the "tar-sands" in Canada, all of which could supply the petroleum needs of America for YEARS if the oil companies were allowed (and they would love to) spend some of their profits drilling and refining in those areas?!

Newt.org
Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.

Heeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrreee'sss...Foreclosure!

Ed McMahon can't afford his six-bedroom, five-bath house in a gated hilltop community. Cry me a flood.

Barack Obama is Black?

I may have asked this question before:

How is it that Barack Obama's mother is white, his father is African, but he is considered (condsiders himself) the first African-American/Black candidate for President? If you're running for president and you're half "black"...does the "white ethnic gene" all of a sudden become recessive?

Suicide

"Do you think people who commit suicide go to heaven?," my co-worker asked. The question wasn't just out of the blue; his niece had killed herself a couple of days before.

I don't go around beating people over the head with it, but people in our office/shop know that I am a Christian. This co-worker and I have had several discussions about religion/Christianity over the past 20 years we've known each other. In fact, he is a fairly new Christian, having come to faith in Christ just a couple of years ago. I didn't "lead" him to Christ, but I'd like to think that my prayers and witness played a role in his and his family's conversion.

"That's a tough one, " I replied. "Was your niece a Christian?" I asked. Believing that is the prerequisite to one's going to heaven--being a Christian--I figured I might as well start there. He understood why I had asked and wasn't offended by the question. The co-worker stated that the family didn't attend church, but they talked about Jesus alot. None of the children, including the girl that had committed suicide, had gone to church growing up--at least not regularly. The occasional VBS, funeral or wedding. Maybe on Easter or Christmas, but nothing regular. "But I have reason to believe that she surely made some sort of decision or confession of faith at some time in her life," he said. He wasn't real explicit where he got that notion.

For some people, "being a Christian" simply means going to church (every Sunday or at least somewhat of a regular interval). For others, it's having been sprinkled (that ain't baptism, which is an entirely different topic) as a baby, or maybe they went through a class or something. If they signed a card or can claim membership in a church, that's always a good one. Simply believing there is a God will do it for some, while others might take it a step further and say "I know I don't live like I should, but I believe Jesus died for my sins." Whatever they believe, it becomes something to hang their hat on when faced with the reality of death--their own or a loved one's.

It's interesting (and sad) that people don't think about God, or have much to do with Him...until the end.