Important Things

Man and a dog.
Girl and two trees.
College roommates.
42 year old man with nine year old boy.
Two guys.
Two girls.

What marriage is:
According to Scripture, one man, one woman, united.
According to Webster, one man, one woman, united.

Words mean things, and the word "Marriage" has always meant, and still means, "The union of a man and a woman." No civil or political action can change the meaning of the term.

Ellen was never married to her partner. She may have gone through a ceremony and had the California Supreme Court say it was a marriage, but that does not change the fact that no relationship between two women (or two men, for that matter) can properly be understood to be a marriage. The whole "gay marriage" debate basically revolves around the desire of some to legitimize and justify what has always been generally understood to be deviant behavior.

Now, before you call me a hate filled bigot, (too late, you say? How hatefully bigoted of you!) consider this...

Those on one side of the issue claim to merely "want the same rights" that the other side has. In actuality, what they are demanding is that the structure and limits of that particular relationship which has always been understood to be called "marriage" be torn down so that the word really means nothing at all. After all, if marriage does not mean "one man, one woman, united," then what else can it mean? Why should the limits to the definition include only two consenting adult humans? Why must the line be drawn at two, or consenting, or adults, or even human? Why can a cowboy not marry his horse? Why a son not his mother? Why should there be any limits at all placed on what is legitimately recognized as marriage?

Yes, I know, it's the old "slippery slope" argument. But when you're standing at the top of a wet hill, shouldn't you call the slick incline by its real name?

Bartiromo Talks with Sarah Palin
Great interview (though I cringed at the "McCain=Maverick" meme...) Best part comes at the end.

I'm doing a pro-life speech. Four months ago, my fifth child was born with Down syndrome…so I value innocent life. It took many months for me to get my arms around the idea of, first, having a fifth child at my age, but also knowing that my child would have an extra chromosome. But I prayed the whole time, "God, just prepare me, prepare my heart and prepare my family." And talk about confirmation of that prayer, I mean, Trig is just—he is to me—absolutely perfect. And everybody's in love with him, and he's the sweetest little baby in the world.

Still not convinced to vote for McCain, but I could vote for Lapin.

Greeting

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

Walking in Truth and Love

I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Final Greetings

Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

The children of your elect sister greet you.

ESV, see also NIV or the NASB.
Audio version, KJV on MP3.

Johnny Hart was a faithful witness in his art. He will be missed.

HollywoodJesus has the lowdown (with graphics) on
JOHNNY HART AND THE EASTER CONTROVERSY

B.C. COMICS the 2001 incident

For those of you who do not know Johnny Hart and what took place on Easter 2001, let me bring you up to speed. First let me know introduce you to cartoonist Johnny Hart -the most widely read writer on earth..

***UPDATE***
Related-
Above the fold: Deathbed
29 words or less: Farewell
Daggle: Thanks for the Anteater
Malkin: R.I.P.

A Cry From the Heart of a Generation -- The Pain of Divorce
Kenneth Lowe is a young man with a message -- and a rather stark message at that. He has written a powerful essay that serves as an indictment of his parents' generation. The issue is divorce and the emotion is intense.

(Via Albert Mohler dot-com)

Well, duh. Everyone know the answer to that one, right?

Apparently St. Thomas Aquinas has thought through this issue. Ben has also given the matter some thought, and come to the conclusion that God can't do anything. I tend to agree with his premise.

The issue isn't one I've given a lot of deep thought to myself, since I've never really considered God's omnipotence to be contrary to his perfect holiness. The idea that nothing is impossible for God didn't ever cause me to think that perhaps it was possible for God to sin. Leave it up to a perceptive third grader to spot the obvious, though.

How might you respond to this philosophical question if a third grader put it to you? Here's how I'm thinking of approaching it at this point;

1- God is perfectly holy. If God were to become anything less than holy, He would no longer be God. Because of this, God cannot do anything that would make Himself less than perfectly holy.

2- The verses of scripture that speak of God's omnipotence (i.e., "nothing is impossible with God") are speaking of God's ability to perform whatever He chooses to do. Whatever God wills, He has the ability to perform. There is nothing God wants to do that He does not have the ability to make happen.

3- The fact that God cannot sin, or cannot change his nature, does not mean that He is not omnipotent. I really need to flesh this out some more, suggestions are welcome!

Of course, I would be remiss if I failed to mention Larry's take on the question of God's omnipotence:

Bob (the tomato): "With God, all things are possible."
Larry (the cucumber): "Really? Do you think He could turn me into a chicken? 'Cause I've always wanted to be a chicken!"

Tornado hit our apartments today. Major damage. No injuries, praise God. I'll be taking pictures tomorrow, might post some.

Reconstruction will take months. Two roofs completely gone, several others peeled back, lots of debris and wind damage. Could be a million dollars worth of damage. Thank God for insurance.

Following is an essay my son did for his English assignment.

Well, the Lord, He is my Shepherd,
And I don't want anything,
He makes me to lie down in
The pastures so-o-o green
And the waters where He leads me,
They are so clear and cold,
The Lord, He does restore me,
And He makes me whole.

Well, when I'm in the valley,
And I know that I might die,
I don't have to fear,
And I don't have to cry,
'Cause I know that He is by me,
Right there by my side,
His staff and rod are near me,
I don't have to hide.

Now when my enemies are near,
And right up in my face,
I don't have to fear,
Because you have made a place
Where I can set and rest,
And taste your bread.
You fill my cup to fullness,
And pour oil on my head.

You lead me in the right ways,
you don't lead me astray.
Your paths are full of mercy,
And goodness every day,
And right here in your house
Is where I wish to stay.
Oh Lord, You are my shepherd,
Oh Lord, don't let me stray.
Keep me in Your will, Lord, keep me in your way.

iTurk's blog-ego has been bruised because a well written post on a very serious issue didn't generate nearly the amount of traffic some of his more contentious stuff gets. Do him (and perhaps yourself) a favor and read his third in a series of posts on marriage. For you attention deficit guys out there (aren't we all attention deficit?) here's the money quote;

And that said, men, Paul has much more stern words for you: Love your wives as Christ loves the church, as you would love your own bodies. That is, love her in spite of what you think is sinful or offensive. Love your wives for the sake of sanctifying her. But notice: that’s not a love of attrition where you love her by correction and denial: it is a love of example (Eph 5:2), and sacrifice (1 Cor 15:3), and patience (2 Pet 3:9), and intention (Acts 2:14-41). Christ loves the church by giving himself up for her. What about you? Do you give up a round of golf for your wife, ever? How about even 10 minutes of TV at night?

Bible Story
1 Samuel 16:1-13 (Samuel anoints David)

Key Verse
1 Samuel 16:7(b)
For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Key Concept
Our worth to God is not dependent upon any external characteristics we may have.

Object Lesson (Preparation)
Prepare three prizes. Two of the prizes should be of minimal worth, such as a broken brick or a piece of wood. These two prizes are to be wrapped like birthday gifts. The third prize should contain an item of significant value, such as two Sacagawea Dollar Coins. This prize should be stuffed into the bottom of a McDonalds bag that has been kicked around the floorboard of your truck for three days.

Object Lesson (Presentation)
Choose two kids to come forward, allow each to choose one of the three prizes. Emphasize the attractiveneness of the gift-wrapped prizes. To highlight the unattractiveness of the McDonalds bag as a prize, pull out a french fry and take a bite. After gagging a bit, spit the remaining french fry back into the bag. The result should be that the children choose the gift-wrapped prizes while rejecting the McDonalds bag.

---

Followup Observations

1. Max likes broken bricks. He'd rather have the brick than the dollar coin.
2. Max's mom doesn't want him to have the brick. Should have seen that coming.
3. The girl on the third row really likes french fries. Even three day old fries. That have been spat on.
4. Next time (like that'll ever happen again) leave the french fries out.

Kids are cute. This morning I had a second grader read the following verse;

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

It came out as;

...teach a rhinocerous man, and he will increase in learning.

May God grant that I be such a rhinocerous man.

Regarding the importance of evangelism within the context of disaster relief, Pastor Don says

We must accompany our benevolent actions with explanations of hope. Let us do more than provide folks a comfortable home to go to hell from.

When you stock the shelves of our food distribution center, speak of the greater storehouse of God’s sovereign mercy and grace. When you carry groceries to a families car, tell them of the boundless provision of Christ. In this blazing south Mississippi heat, when you offer them precious bottle water, urge them to turn from their broken cisterns that can hold no water, to the all satisfying fountain of living water who is Jesus Christ. When you gut a house, clean a yard, or remove storm debris, share Christ’s almighty ability to remove the grotesque debris of human sin.

There's more. Read for yourself, then visit RebuildLakeshore.com to see how you can help.