Lead Me (Acoustic - with Lyrics) by Sanctus Real

Today I learned of another couple at our church who were separated. It came to me as a total surprise. After hearing the news I did realise that I noticed seeing one of them in church alone on Sundays. I did not think too much of it at the time because while Hazel is pregnant I have attended alone several times in the last month. My heart just broke as I told Hazel about it. It is hard to understand the pain and changes that occur in relationships. I think about the group I call the Sunday morning widows who show up every service without their husbands. I'm not talking about the ones that work, but about the ones that just do not have a desire to go to church or they have been upset by the church and choose not to attend. My heart breaks again when I think of a man who worked with me in Evangelism Explosion and now does not attend church because of some incident or misunderstanding with our church. I am sure their is plenty of blame to go around and I would probably sympathise with him based on my relationship with some staff people at our church. This man was passionate about leading people to Christ and needs to be standing at the front door on Sunday mornings welcoming people. I debate when it is time for me to stand up and try and reconcile the bridge that has been broken. I guess I just might have answered that question. Pray for me to find the strength to enter a very uncomfortable situation.

I wonder why (or I know why) it is so easy for a man to be passionate about watching his favorite sporting activity, or immerse himself in his job, but has no desire to get up Sunday morning and accompany his wife to church. It is so wonderful to come to church on Sunday morning walking hand in hand with your wife and beautiful children to worship God. There is such a beautiful bond that happens when your worshipping together. Try it once, it might even improve your sex life! When we get married we all take this vow to be the spiritual leader in our house. I know there are Bible verses to support it. It's kind of like the beer commercials which ask you to "man up". We all like to put on an appearance of a perfect life. I know through friendships that women are especially good at it.

As a husband and a head of house I need to have strong hands and be willing to fight to show my family that they are not alone and that our house is a home. I hope others can "man up" and do the same thing. God will help us!

Judas Priest

I always love it when I can take a topic I am passionate about and relate to some past interest of my past. Judas Priest was one of my favorite heavy metal bands and I still enjoy cranking up a tune once in awhile. How could you not enjoy songs like "Sinner , Victim Of Changes ", Living After Midnight and of course "Another Thing Coming". I remember when me and my best friend Rick went and saw Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and 38 Special at wings stadium. What a great concert. We both dreamed about being the dual guitarist for Judas Priest. Iron Maiden was amazing and stold the show. I have to dig out that "Number of the Beast" record.
I attended are church Bible study on Lent and we listen to Doctor Mark talk about the second to the last supper and the last supper. As he talked I started thinking about Judas of Iscariot and his whole role in the story. I am sorry but how did poor Judas get picked to be the one who betrayed Jesus? Did his family do something to really upset God? How could this infant turn out to be the one who betrayed Jesus? I guess he was not one of the elected. When Satan talked to Judas about betraying Jesus did he have a chance to say no? Obviously not if it was God's plan. Why was Judas picked over the other disciples? Was it his greed? Jesus really seemed to have a problem with the greedy in his parables. Was Judas sin of betraying Christ worse than Peter denying Christ three times? Is Judas sitting in hell somewhere mulling his decision to betray Christ and having regrets? Or is he hanging out with Satan talking about strategy to help delay their eventual defeat at the end of days. Did Judas realise that Christ was actually the Son of God and repent or ask for forgiveness before he hanged himself? Are these questions blasphemy? Jesus said it was better that Judas was never born. Should we thank Judas for his role in the whole story. Sorry about your luck but I appreciate my only comfort in life and death.
What do the Jews think about Judas?

God owes us nothing

I have been reading this new book "Letters to a Young Calvinist" and have one striking memory so far. The chapter is called "God owes us nothing" No answers, no grace, no piece of mind?. Well there is one piece of mind. Answered by the Heidelberg Catechism. I am also reading criticism of the new Rob Bell book "Love Wins" by his description of Heaven.
How can my finite mind understand the infinite God?
I have this Calvin College sweatshirt I wear almost everyday. Now that I have become a proud graduate. I love wearing it because it is a great conversation starter. Today I was sitting in the park watching Iris and Lily play and a guy walked up to me and said: You must have paid allot for that sweatshirt" He was a Calvin College graduate and was a member of the RCA. We sat and talked for awhile and I made my little smart ass comment of how you joined the Reformed Church after being raised Christian Reformed. He told me that he moved back to Michigan and started attending a CRC church. The pastor visited his family and after the pastor found out his kids went to a public school he chastised him for it. From that moment on his wife said they would not attend that church. Thank God his faith was strong enough where he did not stop attending church, but moved to a church he was more comfortable with. I felt a little embarrassed because I was one of those elite CRC members who saw those public school kids as pre-damned? Would if this preacher met a person who did not have any church background? This person probably would have left the church with a bad taste in his mouth. God owes us nothing? Not even an explanation for these kinds of actions. Actually the explanation can be found in the Bible and it all begins with love. Tonight I am watching the news and its all about Libya. The reporters are all to happy talking about our no fly zone and cruise missiles. I know there are too many innocent people dying there tonight! And of course the nuclear/ tsunami incident in Japan is also big news. I know I can ask God why and I should ask why? God owes me nothing. No answers to my questions? no grace? I still have piece of mind?

50

Yesterday I did the first thing ever in my life!
Actually the exclamation point should be a frown but it was a noteworthy day in my life! I paid $50 for something I never had before. It wasn't a mint condition copy of a Wonder Woman comic, or a autographed copy of the new Rob Bell book "Love Wins" which I believe everyone should read. I have thought about paying $50 for a CD copy of Rob Jungklas "The Flame" if I could find a copy because I love it so much. I pulled up to a Meijer gas station and filled up the old Saturn. The pump shut off at $49.02 and I managed to squeeze a a few fumes out to make it an even $50. Wow I just filled up my own car for $50. I am sure glad I am not driving that old "Grand Am" I had in college. I can laugh about it right now, but what if it takes $75 to fill my car up or even $100. The next thing you know we will be in "Road Warrior" territory.
I have also started reading a short book for "Letters for Young Calvinist" The whole TULIP thing is starting to make sense. Read the new Rob Bell book "Love Wins".