He Gives and He Takes Away

Through this sorrow I have been learning many things. The most important of which is that God is sovereign and we are responsible for our own actions apart from the cross. It has been especially hard knowing that my own father spurned the truth of the gospel, even at the end, in favor of his own pride. Yet, our God is still a good God. He does not desire that we spurn his offers of salvation, He continually (in many lives) reaches out the truth toward us and yet because of His character "God resists the proud, but give grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5). I have had to remember so much of His character these last several weeks as we first knew the time was near, but then we knew that Hope was no longer necessary. His character is what has allowed me to remember that no matter the choices that my father made, no matter how little concern he had for his own soul, God is always loving and faithful, just and pure. I say that not because I ever doubted the character of God, but because I realize the nature of a human life that rebels continually against their creator. I understand, while I am still deeply sorrowed by it, that God cannot allow us to go our own way. This has encouraged me, even while tears have been present.

A Few Memories.....

With His mother Summer 2009.

Not the best of everyone, but we will take what we can get!

With Petra and an old Friend from Alaska

days at my sister's wedding 2009.

With My grammy at my wedding.

 My Wedding 2003.

 His entire side of the family including his parents, 1999.

Chatanika River, Alaska 1991 or 92.

1982.

 Easter 1986.

Christmas 1982.

In memory of DMB

1948-2010

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
more than all in thee I find;
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name,
I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am;
thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound,
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart;
rise to all eternity.

-Charles Wesley

Why I Could Care Less If You Are A Christian

What does it mean when someone says they are a Christian? Many contemporary evangelical church members seem to be content with defining the term as someone who has merely let the name of Jesus roll off their tongue. Some time ago I spoke with a parent who lamented the fact that one of their children was living an ungodly lifestyle and time has revealed that they are apparently content in that lifestyle. I asked this parent if their child was a Christian and they responded with this statement: “Yes, they made a public profession of faith when they were younger.” I wish in that moment that I had asked a different question. I wish that I had asked that parent this instead “Is your child a Christ-follower?” I believe I would have gotten a different answer because that parent would have had to deal honestly with their child in the here and now and not clung to some past act that the present suggests never resulted in a genuine new birth. If this is what being a Christian is all about then I have no choice but to suggest that the Christians in our churches need to be evangelized as much as the lost in our communities.

I am firmly convinced that the New Testament paints a vastly different and more beautiful portrait of Christianity. In Mark 10, Jesus confronts a man who was willing to make a “public profession of faith” but yet unwilling to follow Jesus. The story begins in verse 17 when the rich fellow makes a “public profession of faith” that Jesus is a “Good Teacher.” This was not an easy thing to acknowledge in the first century and reveals much about the rich fellow’s understanding of Jesus. He knew and was willing to confess that Jesus was special. Not unlike many church members today who are willing to call Jesus “Good God” and “Good Savior.” Yet, as the rest of the passage reveals simply acknowledging certain realities about Jesus do not lead to eternal life. The rich fellow found out quickly that his public profession was highly inadequate as a means of inheriting eternal life. Jesus doesn’t tell him to just say “the sinner’s prayer” or to “make a public profession of faith.” Jesus calls him to something far greater than the recitation of some formulaic statement about His character. Jesus calls the rich fellow to abandon his idols and come follow the One True God who alone is worthy of all one’s worship. Jesus is a “Good Teacher,” a “Good God,” a “God Savior,” but He is also a “Good Lord.” In fact, the only “Good Lord” the world will ever know. Are those who want to cling to their “public professions of faith” really following Jesus as their “Good Lord?”

I realize some may say that I have taken the phrase “public profession of faith” and redefined it to mean something people don’t intend it to mean. Yet, I believe it is those who most often claim it who have redefined it. If being a Christian is defined as one who makes a “public profession of faith” but never sees a change in their life than either we must abandon that which the Bible says are the distinctives of those who know Christ or abandon our time-cherished but tragically flawed claims and titles. I absolutely affirm that the Bible defines a Christ-follower as one who was justified only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ not their works (Galatians 2:15-16). The Bible is equally clear, however, that a life transformed by the Gospel of Christ will ALWAYS translate into a changed life. Not a perfect life but a changed life. This is and always will be true because the new birth will never be delayed or aborted (John 3:1-15)!

For these reasons and many more I could care less if you are a Christian! I do very much care, however, whether or not you are a Christ-follower. If your life right now is one of constant and unrepentant rebellion against God than no “professions of faith” or titles you cling to will ever justify you or testify to the fact that you really are a Christ-follower. It is a radical, costly, and totally transformative thing when Christ saves a life. Christian, has He saved yours?

Where did 3 years go?

Make a Smilebox free photo slideshow

God Is Crying Out To You!

Death comes to all of us. Because each of us sin we are consigned to what sin brought to us....death. The gospel is the only triumph over death. We must be mindful that we MUST have an eternal mind set! An eternal vision! Apart from the gospel, we have no vision but one of this earth and this life. God is crying out to you to trust in the saving Work of Christ, I am pleading with you, just as Mr. Washer reminds us that Paul does the same thing, Turn to HIM! Where is your hope apart from Christ?

God Of All Comfort

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians.


"This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life." Psalm 119:50. Looking for comfort today as I am greatly afflicted in my spirit with groanings and tears. I look toward the glories that the Gospel has promised me and in spite of the deep sorrow, I have an unequivical peace. He doesn't give as the rest of the world gives. I am trusting in His grace today. Hoping all things! And ever mindful that eternity is looming for us all!

I Am A Bad Person....Are You?

One truth about the gospel I hold especially dear is the doctrine that I am a bad person (aka, Total Depravity). Without my wickedness I would have never had the need of a savior, and I DO have a GREAT need for the Savior! Christ DIED on the cross because I am a bad person, with all the capablities to sin as any other robber, adulter, drunk, murderer, and distainer of God that ever lived! I hope you too understand the implications made by Jesus Himself about the reason He came to die and save you from yourself. If you are a good person then Jesus didn't die for you, because You don't need it. He himself said that He came for the sick, not the well*. I admit I am a filthy sinner who had such a great need of His righteouness that I was lost without a hope, dead at the bottom of the pond as RC Sproul Says! Without conviction of sin we are not under the grace of Christ!




*By this I mean your admission of innocence flys in the face of the gospel, when you say you are good you say in essence that you Don't need the cross. I do not believe that you do not need the Cross, but beware of saying you are good for you will one day stand before the Creator with that argument and He sent Jesus because He disagreed, vehemently I might add!

What Are You Passionate About?

Does your passion for God translate to every area of your life and to every person that you meet? Or are you making excuses for your sin? Are you comfortable with mediocrity? Does your heart cry out for a greater vision of God's glory?

Mistaken...For Jesus...

Seriously, Fabulous song, ignore all the "artsy" shots and listen to the lyrics!


I am called to live in perfect relation to God so that my life produces a longing after God in others lives, not admiration for myself. -Oswald Chambers (dec 2 in My utmost for His Highest).

Finally....

My Girl

Love my little booby! Wouldn't trade this crazy-moody-impish-distracting-sweet-prickly-female for anyother! I know I prayed for boys and I am so thankful that the Lord honored those prayers, but there are times when we don't know how much of a blessing something can be. Our God is a good God and often He gives when we don't even know what to ask for! Petra is one of those blessings in my own life, something I didn't have the sense to ask the Lord for and yet I have the sense now to be thankful for!