Friday, October 29, 2010

What's the Value of Shock?


What do you think about using the graphic photographs depicting the aftermath of abortions?

Pro-abortion people get all kinds of bent out of shape when these images are used in the war against abortion. But why? Because the truth hurts. And informs. And sets people free.

It wasn't until Russian and American soldiers entered German concentration camps in 1944 and 1945 and found the piles of dead, naked, bodies, the ovens and gas chambers, the items made out of human flesh, the stories and records of devils like Josef Mengele, that the world knew what had been going on inside the world of the Third Reich. It wasn't until pictures and film were taken that the world could see what the SS had been up to and be properly horrified at the atrocious, unconscionable actions of Hitler's demonic henchmen.

There's a reason those camps were so secret. Imagine how much harder the allies would have fought in Europe had we had a glimpse inside the camps in 1942 or 1943. It is true that the Allies were 'aware' of the camps, but what was going on inside of them was not completely understood until later.

In a similar fashion, the more secretive pro-abortion activists are about the aftermath and effects of abortion, the more ignorance there is and therefore the more acceptance by way of indifference exists.

We can argue against abortion quite effectively from many angles. There are solid answers to every argument for abortion, and indeed, information is powerful. But what about using the 'big guns' which are the horrendous images I mentioned before.

They are not inaccurate. They are not photoshopped. They ARE shocking, horrifying and possibly more than some people can handle. I myself won't look at these images again. I have seen them in the past but I can't do it anymore. That was enough horror to last my whole life. But strange as it sounds, I'm glad I've seen them. Or perhaps it is better to say that I value how those images reinforced my repugnance for abortion. What do you think? To use or not to use?

Pro-abortion forces use misinformation for the purpose of extermination. So did the Nazis.

Colonel William W. Quinn of the U.S. 7th Army said of Dachau: "There our troops found sights, sounds, and stenches horrible beyond belief, cruelties so enormous as to be incomprehensible to the normal mind."
The same is true when a baby is killed by abortion.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Nice To Meet You...I'm Your Other Half

Just a great little song about being in love...



I couldn't embed the official production vid, so here's the link:
The Best Thing OFFICIAL VIDEO

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Prodigal Animation

Seems like I've posted a lot of videos lately...oh well! :) The following is an animation, set to the song "Prodigal" from Sovereign Grace Music.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Trying To Pray Right (Correctly)

I would never get to the end of myself if I prayed about everything on my to-do list. It would be an enormous waste of time. As a guy, I'm so much all about checking things off my list each day and frankly, I often have to stop myself as I begin to pray, "Lord, I've got a lot of stuff to do today..."

It's not that I'm against praying for things like that, but I don't like the fact that my first impulse is to bring up my schedule when talking with God.

What I've discovered (surprise!) is that when my inner life is ordered, settled, and centered on things above, other things tend to work themselves out. Of course, my daily duties don't magically dissolve and drain away. If only... Instead, I find that the Lord supplies me with the focus and determination to work hard and work well, thus overcoming the sinful side of me that would tend towards laziness and laxity. That's why we approach the throne of GRACE and not the throne of GIMME. I need grace to supplant my sinful weaknesses so I can live out my day in the Lord's strength. I need daily bread. Strength for today.

So I guess I'm trying to beware of being satisfied with a lot of boxes checked off in my prayers. Instead, I want to make sure I've touched on the topics that change me and not JUST my circumstances. I will always have certain people and things I pray for regularly, if not daily. But for me, it's important that I don't stray into mindless, scurrying-around prayers instead of staying at Jesus' feet to listen.

Friday, October 22, 2010

On The Heights


When I was a kid, our family travelled to Colorado just about every summer for vacation. It was just a day's drive from our home in the rolling hills of northeast Kansas and across the fruited plain to the mountains. One of the coolest parts of that road trip was (and still is!) sighting Pike's Peak from I-70 when it was yet 80 miles away.

The feeling of leaving the plains and moving into the enfolding protection and majesty of the Rocky Mountains remains something that is almost palpable for me. Being in the high country is where I've always wanted to live. It's a constant barrage of beauty and wonder and the ruggedness all around stirs adventure in the soul! Even today, I return to the mountains often and find that the feelings and emotions I had as a child haven't ebbed in the slightest.

Sometimes the trail we're walking turns steeply upward and taxes our strength. Often we're on what seems to be an interminable succession of switchbacks, making little progress. We're out of breath, and the summit we're straining for disappears from sight even though we're closer to it than we ever were. Such is life, such is hiking. Nevertheless:

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
Habakkuk 3:17-19

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

This Is The Way

Two love songs for this Wednesday, sung by a couple of beautifully creative artists - Charlie Peacock and John Foreman. So, here's to my God and the wife He gave me.



Monday, October 18, 2010

Feasting and Foes

Don't you think it's interesting that Psalm 23:5 declares that those shepherded by God will actually feast in the presence of their enemies? Given the choice, I think we'd rather dine in peace and safety, but if life has taught me anything (and therefore simply confirmed what the Bible proclaims as fact), it's that purity comes by way of the furnace, maturity comes through trouble, and fellowship with Jesus comes through suffering.

For the believer, being in the presence of enemies is no cause for alarm. It's a time to feast on the riches of Christ and to be satisfied with His comforting presence.

And thanks to a good friend and Grooveshark, I've found a great long-lost song by Russ Taff that talks about the Table In The Wilderness.