Stained Glass Masquerade

I just learned a new song on my guitar. It's called Stained Glass Masquerade and it's by Casting Crowns. I've been playing and singing it over and over. I've played it a hundred times. I love the music and the words are meaningful. Stained Glass Masquerade Casting Crowns Is there anyone that fails Is there anyone that falls Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small Cause when I take a look around Everybody seems so strong I know they’ll soon discover That I don’t belong So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too So with a painted grin, I play the part again So everyone will see me the way that I see them Are we happy plastic people Under shiny plastic steeples With walls around our weakness And smiles to hide our pain But if the invitation’s open To every heart that has been broken Maybe then we close the curtain On our stained glass masquerade Is there anyone who’s been there Are there any hands to raise Am I the only one who’s traded In the altar for a stage The performance is convincing And we know every line by heart Only when no one is watching Can we really fall apart But would it set me free If I dared to let you see The truth behind the person That you imagine me to be Would your arms be open Or would you walk away Would the love of Jesus Be enough to make you stay

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

I found "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" at http://www.shol.com/agita/wolfside.htm. A. Wolf took the stand today in his own defense. This shocked and stunned the media who predicted that he would not testify in the brutal double murder trial. A. Wolf is accused of killing (and eating) The First Little Pig, and The Second Little Pig. This criminal trial is expected to be followed by a civil trial to be brought by the surviving Third Little Pig. The case has been characterized as a media circus. His testimony is transcribed below: "Everybody knows the story of the Three Little Pigs. Or at least they think they do. But I'll let you in on a little secret. Nobody knows the real story, because nobody has ever heard my side of the story. I'm Alexander T. Wolf. You can call me Al. I don't know how this whole Big Bad Wolf thing got started, but it's all wrong. Maybe it's because of our diet. Hey, it's not my fault wolves eat cute little animals like bunnies and sheep and pigs. That's just the way we are. If cheeseburgers were cute, folks would probably think you were Big and Bad too. But like I was saying, the whole big bad wolf thing is all wrong. The real story is about a sneeze and a cup of sugar. THIS IS THE REAL STORY. Way back in Once Upon a Time time, I was making a birthday cake for my dear old granny. I had a terrible sneezing cold. I ran out of sugar. So I walked down the street to ask my neighbor for a cup of sugar. Now this neighbor was a pig. And he wasn't too bright either. He had built his whole house out of straw. Can you believe it? I mean who in his right mind would build a house of straw? So of course the minute I knocked on the door, it fell right in. I didn't want to just walk into someone else's house. So I called, "Little Pig, Little Pig, are you in?" No answer. I was just about to go home without the cup of sugar for my dear old granny's birthday cake. That's when my nose started to itch. I felt a sneeze coming on. Well I huffed. And I snuffed. And I sneezed a great sneeze. And you know what? The whole darn straw house fell down. And right in the middle of the pile of straw was the First Little Pig - dead as a doornail. He had been home the whole time. It seemed like a shame to leave a perfectly good ham dinner lying there in the straw. So I ate it up. Think of it as a cheeseburger just lying there. I was feeling a little better. But I still didn't have my cup of sugar . So I went to the next neighbor's house. This neighbor was the First Little Pig's brother. He was a little smarter, but not much. He has built his house of sticks. I rang the bell on the stick house. Nobody answered. I called, "Mr. Pig, Mr. Pig, are you in?" He yelled back."Go away wolf. You can't come in. I'm shaving the hairs on my shinny chin chin." I had just grabbed the doorknob when I felt another sneeze coming on. I huffed. And I snuffed. And I tried to cover my mouth, but I sneezed a great sneeze. And you are not going to believe this, but the guy's house fell down just like his brother's. When the dust cleared, there was the Second Little Pig - dead as a doornail. Wolf's honor. Now you know food will spoil if you just leave it out in the open. So I did the only thing there was to do. I had dinner again. Think of it as a second helping. I was getting awfully full. But my cold was feeling a little better. And I still didn't have that cup of sugarr for my dear old granny's birthday cake. So I went to the next house. This guy was the First and Second Little Pig's brother. He must have been the brains of the family. He had built his house of bricks. I knocked on the brick house. No answer. I called, "Mr Pig, Mr. Pig, are you in?" And do you know what that rude little porker answered? "Get out of here, Wolf. Don't bother me again." Talk about impolite! He probably had a whole sackful of sugar. And he wouldn't give me even one little cup for my dear sweet old granny's birthday cake. What a pig! I was just about to go home and maybe make a nice birthday card instead of a cake, when I felt my cold coming on. I huffed And I snuffed. And I sneezed once again. Then the Third Little Pig yelled, " And your old granny can sit on a pin!" Now I'm usually a pretty calm fellow. But when somebody talks about my granny like that, I go a Little crazy. When the cops drove up, of course I was trying to break down this Pig's door. And the whole time I was huffing and puffing and sneezing and making a real scene. The rest as they say is history. The news reporters found out about the two pigs I had for dinner. They figured a sick guy going to borrow a cup of sugar didn't sound very exciting. So they jazzed up the story with all of that "Huff and puff and blow your house down" And they made me the Big Bad Wolf. That's it The real story. I was framed." But maybe you could loan me a cup of sugar? SOMERSET PA (AP)

Simple things add up

I’m in the office in my garage listening to Casting Crowns. “Who am I” is playing now. Worship. My heart swells. Gratitude. I feel really good right now. I jogged four miles and walked one. Still sweating. It’s after midnight and I’m not sleepy at all. Everybody else is asleep. I’m going to work on my sermon till I get sleepy. I’m studying Matthew 5:31-32. Marriage and divorce. It’s a difficult section of scripture. Sticky. Controversial. I quoted it over and over while I was jogging. I’ve read it a hundred times (literally). I’ve prayed for insight. I’ve done word studies in the original language. I’ve consulted my teachers (i.e., my commentaries). But the sermon manuscript is still not coming together for me. I hope God turns on my light bulb soon. I want I do a good job with this sermon so that it’s accurate, clear and practical. I hope that it encourages the married to stay married and that it gives hope to those who have been divorced. Simple things help me. A jog. Tucking in my kids. Massaging Kim's feet. A kiss goodnight. Listening to music. Worshipping in my garage. All these simple things add up and take me where I need to be. Now it's quite. Really quite. No music. No noice. Just a Bible. I'm ready to write.

Eric and Angie’s wedding

We all enjoyed Eric and Angie wedding. We had a great time at the reception. We celebrated and danced and laughed together. It is a day we will always remember. I’m smiling as I write because I’m thinking about how much fun Allen and Jeanie had on the dance floor. Allen and Jeanie can dance! Allen enjoyed it to the hilt! You should have seen him dance – it was so much fun! It was so good to see all our friends from church who drove from Huntington. Mom got to visit with all her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. Our family loves weddings and we know how to celebrate them. Eric and Angie are now in Mexico on their honeymoon.

Headed to Morgantown for Eric and Angie's Wedding

We are traveling to Morgantown in the morning for Eric and Angie's wedding. Eric is Jeanie and Allen's oldest son. He's my nephew. He's a wonderful man and I love him. He's been working at WVU for years. We are so happy for Eric and Angie - they were made for each other.

Lust Arrested

Donald Barnhouse told a story from his book on Romans that illustrates Paul's idea of what it is to be dead to sin. A man came to Dr. Barnhouse's office and told this story. I work for such a company and I have a private office. Several months ago my secretary was absent and I had to use another lady. One day when she brought a paper for my approval she got too close and when she leaned over the desk, she let her hair trail across my face and I fought it down but after all I am a man and toward the end of the day I put my hand on her and she came right back to be kissed. Even while kissing her I was visualizing my two children running to meet me and my wife standing in the door. I hated what I was doing but I kept on. I had the greatest desire to push her from me put I kept pulling her to me. My body was doing one thing and my mind was doing another. When I went home that night I hugged my children so hard that one of them cried and when I got him to laughing I told him that I loved him so much I had tears in my eyes and my wives eyes were shining, we all clung together in one of those moments that are indescribable. My wife was supremely happy because I walked around the house that night touching familiar things that we had scrimped to buy expressing my love for the home and for her. And for God I was never more true. Next day, the office intrigue began all over again. I was never more miserable in my life. Before a month had gone by I realized that my lust and my love was in a terrible battle. When I came home, there was everything I wanted in life. When I went to the office the machine of my body seemed geared to something terrible that was purely mechanical in which I wanted to get out of more than any fly ever wanted to get off fly paper. I heard my wife tell someone that I was becoming more and more a homebody and that all I wanted to do was stay home and its true. I’d follow her around the house, talk with her in the kitchen where she’s working, I’d watch her as she put the children to bed. This morning when I left the house she told me that she thought she was the happiest woman in the world because I showed her so much that I loved her alone. I could hardly talk and when I lifted a lock of her hair to dry them I said I love you more than life itself and she cried, I crushed her to me until she screamed and smiled at the same time, I ran off to my train. But now what shall I do? With the husbands consent, says Dr. Barnhouse, I called the wife to my office and told her the story. Fear leaped to her eyes but I reassured her. We took a taxi and went to his office. He was expecting us and I stood by as they embraced and she said, “I know, I know, I understand, it’s alright”. And then I called the other lady in the office and the scene that followed typified the mortal struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. Both striving for the mastery of that body. But the wife was not striving; she knew that the mind soul and heart of her husband had never been away from her. She understood the glandular warfare of his body and that his lust had sprung to life in response to the lure of strange flesh. She looked at him with complete understanding and love. The secretary stood there speechless. I said to her “she knows all about it. She loves him and he loves her completely and he has never had any thought toward you except one of animal lust. You were never wanted except physically and you are not wanted at all from now on. Do you understand? I asked her to wait in the hall while I prayed with the couple and then I went out and saw the secretary dabbing at her eyes and I talked to her about her need for Jesus Christ. I wished all stories on lust ended like that but they don’t. I wish all pastors were as faithful as the late Dr. Barnhouse and could be called in to intercept before adultery has happened but that’s not possible. And my message to you today is that you do not have to have a pastor, you do not have to have another Christian to intercept your lust. You have Christ the master and he will do it. But you have to present yourself as an instrument of righteousness and just "no" and he will come to your rescue. God who raised him from the grave can raise you above the level of your sins if you will let him.

Our Summer Vacation

Pack. Car trouble. Laughter. Borrow Sharon’s car. Six hours late. Long drive. Kim sleeping. Girls sleeping. Long drive. Coffee. Coffee. More coffee. Sermons on iPod. 4am. Kim wakes. I’m lost. It figures. Laughter. Unstoppable giggles. Found map. Arrive 5:15am. Bed. Kids. Wake. Beach. Sun. Water. Swimming. Lazy River. Sleep on beach. Shop. Kroger’s. Walmart. Sleep. Wake. Kids. Beach. Boogy Board. Body Surfing. Putt putt golf. Beach balls. Flying kites. July 4th. Fireworks. Pool. Balcony. Daughter's ears pierced. Sea mist. Calabash. Crabs. Steak. Shrimp. Back to the beach. Sting ray. Jelly Fish. Beach shops. Floats. Necklaces. Girls talking to boys. Sharks teeth. Laughing. Singing. House of Blues. Kool and the Gang. Dancing. More swimming. Hot sand. Sandles. Sunburns. Tans. Ear aches. Doctor. Ear drops. Pack. Drive home.

My intake of God’s word has quadrupled thanks to Text Aloud and my iPod

Thanks to TextAloud and my iPod my intake of God’s word has quadrupled. Here’s how I do it. It’s a two step process. First, I download 36 sermon podcasts a week from iTunes. I choose the ones I want to listen too and transfer them to my iPod. I burn the rest on CDs so that I can use them as resources in the future. My podcast sermon library is growing daily with great preachers and teachers like Swindol, Begg, Rogers, Zacharias, Piper, Stanley, etc. Second, Jeanie scans in chapters from commentaries. She has OCR software i.e., Optical character recognition which translates images of typewritten text into editable text. After Jeanie scans the chapters from the commentaries she copies them into Word and emails them too me as attached files. I then copy them from Word into TextAloud and my computer reads it using the AT&T Natural Voice of Mike. I set the reading speed to 257 words a minute. I don’t read very fast but I can listen at lightening speed. I save it as an MP3 file and transfer it to my iPod. During the past four days I have listened to 16 sermons. I’ve also listened to commentary book chapters on Matthew 5:27-32 from Dallas Willard, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and James Montgomery Boice, as well as three sermon manuscripts from Ligon Ducan, Rubel Shelly, and John MacArthur that I retrieved from internet websites. Where do I find time? I listen to my iPod while I walk on the beach, workout in the weight room, and at night as I lay in bed waiting to get sleepy enough to rest. I have a big appetite. I frequently copy books of the Bible from biblegateway.com, paste them into TextAloud, and transfer them to my iPod. I look forward to listening to the Bible, sermons and books using this technology. And it has not interfered with our vacation. I’ve had a lot of playtime with our kids and I have had lots of fun with Kim. This would be IMPOSSIBLE without TextAloud and my iPod.

Dancing at the House of Blues

Tonight Kim’s parents watched the kids while Kim and I went to the House of Blues. The house band was great and we danced the night away. It was fun!

Myrtle Waves Water Park

Today Carl and I took the kids to the Myrtle Waves Water Park. The kids rode almost all the water rides and slides. Some of the slides are fast – they loved it!

Happy 230th Birthday America!

On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born in North America. Today we celebrated Independence Day on the beach with thousands of people. Fireworks everywhere! Up and down the beach as far as we could see, fireworks, cheering, and applause. The kids loved it. I thank God for the USA! Christians should criticize less and pray more. Paul explained why we should pray for our country's leaders in 2 Timothy 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. We should pray for President Bush and for everyone who leads our great country. We are so blessed by God. We are free and there is peace in our land. Yes, there is a war in Iraq, a war on terror, and trouble in North Korea. But we are so blessed! Since there is peace in our land we should live godly, quiet lives so that people can see Jesus in us and put their faith in him.

It’s so big!

Everybody is asleep. Kim, the kid’s, her parents, they’re all asleep. Except me. The sliding door is open as I write this post. I can hear it. It roars peacefully. It’s rhythm is nearly perfect. I can see it. Barely. White foam lapping on the sand. Beyond the dim hotel lights I see thick darkness. I see two lights. Fishing boats I guess. They make me think of the life teaming under it’s surface. I feel the breeze. I smell the salt. It’s so big! And I feel so small. God is so awesome. Who else could create something so big? Who else could control something so great? God established it’s boundary. God said, “Here is where your proud waves halt.” The Spirit of God hovers over the waters. God is speaking in every pounding surf. He says, “My grace is deeper than this ocean and wider than this sea.” God’s handiwork makes my heart sing his praise.

Beach Bound

We’re headed to the beach this afternoon. Kim, her parents, the girls, their cousins and me will spend a week at Myrtle Beach. We will be staying till next Sunday. Fun in the sun!

Floating on the Ohio River

I just got back from floating on a big inner-tube in the Ohio River. People tell me not to float in the Ohio River but I can’t stay away from it. I grew up swimming in the Little Coal River. When I was a kid we had a great swimming hole with a long rope and a tire swing. The Ohio is MUCH bigger! But it can’t be any more dirty than the Little Coal River. I figure it all washes off in the shower anyway. Floating on the river clears my mind. I sometimes get mentally stuck as I am working on my sermons. So, this Saturday, I studied till I was stuck, then I mowed the grass and cooled off in the Ohio River. I think I’m ready to work again.