As I have evaluated my thinking, it comes down to a wrong way of thinking of bodily care.

I don’t want to exercise because it generates pain and the catch22 is that if I don’t exercise it causes weakness and eventual pain. But exercise, and the discussion of it, is really another blog post sometime in the future.

I don’t think rightly concerning my eating habits.

Just yesterday I was working on some Ephesisans 4 material, specifically verses 22-24 which deal with the “Put-off / Put-on” principle. Someone wrote this question and it struck me square in my heart:

How often do you think of things in your life that need to be “put off”?

Immediately I wanted to say that I knew the overall spiritual temperature of my walk with Christ was good and healthy…but the question wouldn’t go away. The sinful choices of my eating habits seemed to be in the forefront of my mind. So I decided to do something about it. The principles laid out in Ephesians 4 are these:

• Put off the sinful behavior, thinking and speech
• Renew your mind – regulate the input
• Put on the righteous behavior, thinking and speech.

How do these principles look like right now in my desire to change my eating habits?

• Put off: My sinful eating habits focused on pleasing me – finding satisfaction in food
• Renew: My thinking needs to be finding my satisfaction in pleasing God and in Christ alone
• Put on: My righteous eating habits will be focused on providing proper nutrition to the body that God has given me and a resistance to the impulsive eating habits. It will be a focus on teaching my body what hunger truly is and how I rightly can manage hunger. When the desire to satisfy self or splurge on self comes, I will need to immediately focus on Christ and His sufficiency in some way.

How am I going to accomplish all this?

I decided to use a resource I have recommended to several people: Setting Captives Free. While I used part of this ministry to help me become free from the enslavement of pornography several years ago, I will now enroll in their “Lord’s Table” 60 day program. In fact I am on Day #2 currently.

This is the eating plan that I will follow for the next 60 days: Eating Plan #1

While I am somewhat focused on losing weight and eating proper nutritional foods, my main focus will be to find my satisfaction in Christ and through that change the sinful eating habits I have developed.

I encourage you to check out their website and then periodically ask me how I’m doing. I want to be as open as possible, and I’m sure I’ll need the encouragement as I progress. My body is already taking notice and I think that is a good thing.

There are few things that wound a parent’s heart more deeply than a child gone away from the faith. It doesn’t matter the degree of separation – or I guess I should say I wouldn’t think that it does. When a child chooses unrighteousness over the taught and lived out faith of their parent’s Christianity, it breaks the parent’s heart. This woman in Mark 7 had a child given over completely to control by evil. Evil controlled her, it possessed her. Ask yourself this question, “If I were her, how would I come to Jesus?” Would you come? Ashamed? Embarrassed? Demanding? Agonizing? What can we learn from this Canaanite woman in Mark 7 about pleading to Jesus for our children?

Pleading to Jesus for Your Children

(v.25:..but after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, immediately came and fell at His feet…)

• Some quick observations:
  • The woman was identified by her daughter’s possession. Can you hear the community react when she walked by? “Oh. Her. She’sthat girl’s mother.”, “I wonder what shedid to have her daughter turn out like that.”
  • She did something when she heard of Christ. The news of Christ was spreading all over the Galilee region and beyond. Yet it seems that once this woman heard of Christ being close by that she had to act. It was her action that betrays her heart: “…[she] immediately came and fell at His feet…“
• How to plead to Jesus for your children?
  • Get Low: Humbly fall at the feet of Jesus.
    • Yes, people will desire to judge your parenting by how your children behave. Yes, your initial reaction will be one of defense: “…but I did all I could!…” Pride will desire to well up inside you to defend you, your parenting efforts, perhaps even the reputation of your child. When it comes to praying and pleading to Jesus for the spiritual life of your children, get low. Humbly fall at His feet.

(v.26…and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter…)

• Some quick observations:
  • This woman was determined. We see in this text that she “kept asking”; in other gospel accounts we find that she was even “shouting” after them (Jesus & the disciples). The dire circumstances the woman finds her child in motivated her to not only inquire about Jesus’ healing, but drove her to be very vocal for her child’s welfare.
• How to plead to Jesus for your children?
  • Be Persistent: Keep asking with intensity.
    • These battles are not easy. The temptations for resignation and the desires to quit are all but overwhelming. The fainthearted do not enter this fray. There is everything to lose and a soul to be won. Fight with intensity for the soul of your child.

Matthew 15:23: “…but He did not answer her a word…”
Matthew 15:24:”…but He answered and said, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel‘…”
Matthew 15:26:”…It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs…“

Matthew 15:25:”…she came and began to bow down before Him saying, ‘Lord, help me!’”
Matthew 15:27:”…she said, Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master’s tables…”

• Some quick observations:
  • Even when Jesus Christ remained silent, she worshiped. There are dark nights of the parenting soul when heaven seems shut up against our cries. It is at this point when your heart’s desire becomes the most clear. “Lord, help me!” is a packed desperate plea. Lord – my master, help me – no one else can do what You do! Keep Jesus on the throne of your heart when the desires of “fixed” child clamor for kingship. How easy it is to only seek the face of God to see our child culturally acceptable in our churches, to have them cease to be a point of embarrassment and shame for us!
  • Even when Jesus Christ tests her faith, she stays loyal. I’ve yet to find parents that enjoy affliction and suffering in their parenting. The testing of our faith may seem to drown us. The temptations to quit come quickly and often. Cling to Jesus through it all.
• How to plead to Jesus for your children?
  • Worship intently: Reject the idols that seek to creep up on the throne of your heart. Affirm to yourself and others that Jesus is Lord and that He, alone, is the One who can rescue the soul of your child. Jesus is the source of help for your child. Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Worship Him intently…even in severe times of testing.

How to Plead to Jesus for Your Children:

1. Get Low
2. Be Persistent
3. Worship Intently

It is heart-rendering to see your children serve evil…in any degree. It is through the realization of the power of God, through the finished work of Jesus Christ, that we find our greatest hope. Jesus is Lord! He hears! He is deserving of worship! In your darkest hour turn to the Light. Cling to Him in the stark reality that we have nowhere else to turn.

Chance to Interact: What encouragement can you offer to parents that have children who have turned from the faith?

How does a parent move from “the mission” (getting all the stuff done) to “the mission field” (spiritual formation of our family)?

First of all, is that something we are to be concerned about? I’ll submit a hearty “YES” and here’s why:

• Matthew 5:16 – Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (nas)
• Luke 10:2 – And he (Jesus) was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (nas)

How do these two verses take Mission to Mission Field?

• Be active. We are supposed to be doing things in life. So that crazy schedule you keep? It’s okay. There is nothing wrong with being active – in fact, that’s a real good thing. Too many families opt for “couch potato” instead of planting potatoes, but that’s a different post.
• Be Christian. You can’t separate who you are in Christ from what you do as a family. Leave out Jesus and you’re in for a world of hurt. Do the activities pull and push us? Yes. Do we experience stress, irritation, frustration and even anger sometimes as a result? Yes. Here’s the point: deal with it in a way that shows you’re a follower of Christ. Let your light shine. Quit running around with a dark cloud over your head as if life were a hassle rather than a blessing. Jesus has shown you grace – give some to those around you (your kids included).
• Be Motivated. So the whole goal in life is not to accomplish everything on your calendar. Oh, really?!? Your motivation as you taxi kids to and from soccer, horseback riding lessons, dentist’s office, and youth group is not to simply be on time. It is to glorify God. (here’s another verse that kinda includes all that activity: 1 Corinthians 10:31) Look at your activity and see how you can demonstrate being the Christian God wants you to be, and therefore, bring him glory as a result! Makes sense, eh? Jesus is so practical.

Luke 10:2

Here’s the verse I bet you never heard in any parenting class you ever took. Pray that God would send laborers into His harvest: that’s you & your kids. Kinda practical, isn’t it?

• What’s your greatest desire for your child? I pray that it is to love God and serve Him forever.
• What’s His mission for your child? To work in His harvest.
• What’s that look like? Moving the Mission to Mission Field.
  • It means taking all the things we tend to think are “secular” and making them “Christian”. I don’t mean just slap a different title on it, I mean to live intentionally for Jesus Christ.
  • That part-time job your teen just signed on for? He’s not working for the king, he’s working for the King! (okay, I just happen to have one of my boys working for Burger King) He isn’t motivated by his paycheck or schedule, he needs to be motivated by the fact that Christ will reward him someday for how he labored in his job. (Colossians 3)
  • That soccer practice? It’s not a time of trying to always make first squad (not a bad goal), but rather, “How can I serve my teammates and coaches today?”
  • That band event? It’s not about looking good, its about serving the other band members, the band leader and encouraging those who come to listen.
  • On and on it goes. Can you see practical ways to take your “mission” and make it a “mission field”?

Finally, how are you keeping your spiritual fuel tank full, as well as the fuel tanks of your children?

You will quickly slide into “Mission-only Mode” if you fail to keep the tank full of biblical wisdom and the words of Christ. Having a passion and desire for “Mission Field” only comes as you begin to see the opportunity of parenting as Christ would. It only fleshes out as you see evangelism and discipleship as Christ would. It only becomes glorifying as it takes on Christ’s desire, which is, “…to always do the will of Him that sent Me…”

What are some other practical ways to move from Mission to Mission Field?

More about Ken Sande:
Ken Sande, author of the bestselling classic The Peacemaker, has long been a trusted resource on the topic of conflict resolution. In Resolving Everyday Conflict, Sande distills his message to the essentials, quickly equipping readers with the tools they need to bring peace to their relationships.

Everyone encounters conflict–whether it be with a coworker, family member, friend, or complete stranger. And yet we all desire harmony in our relationships. Resolving Everyday Conflict is a practical, biblical, concise guide to peacemaking in everyday life that can turn tumultuous relationships into peaceful ones.

What other resources on resolving conflict have you found?

Today as I drove the hour to and from Ft.Wayne’s NeuroSpine Unit at Lutheran Hospital, I finished listening to Mrs. Kennedy & Me written by Secret Service Agent Clint Hill. I purchase my audiobooks from Audible.com and listen to them on my Galaxy S smartphone. I enjoy reading memoirs and books of history, particularly American history, and this book did not disappoint.

Clint Hill was part of the Presidential Protection Unit for U.S. President Eisenhower. After President John F. Kennedy‘s successful election, Agent Hill was reassigned to Mrs. Kennedy’s Secret Service detail. At first Hill was very disappointed to be taken from a Presidential detail and assigned to the First Lady’s detail. He had mistakenly thought that he would spend countless hours on shopping trips, watching ballet and standing by as the First Lady would host tea parties. He was wrong. Oh! how he was wrong! Mr. Hill weaves fascinating insights into the first family’s life from the three years that he was assigned to Mrs. Kennedy while her husband was President. As the book unfolds, Hill reveals how he and Mrs. Kennedy connected on a personal, but professional, level. It was this close-knit relationship that would be put to the test in Dallas, Texas the day President Kennedy was assassinated. Hill tells of not only that monumental grief for the Kennedy family, but also the grieving that both President and Mrs. Kennedy faced with the loss of Patrick Kennedy, their new born son, just a few months earlier. Through tragedy and triumph, Agent Hill was by Mrs. Kennedy’s side. He was asked to provide the former First Lady’s protection after the assassination for the period of a year. When it came time for Agent Hill to move on to other protective services and governmental duties, Mrs. Kennedy threw him a “farewell” party in her New York City office. They parted as dear friends.

What really pulled me into the book was the fact that in the audiobook, Clint Hill reads the Introduction and the Epilogue. You can hear the anguish and emotion in his voice, it seems, as his gravelly voice relates his thoughts. The book is well-written. It is not a tabloid, sensationalistic secret-telling history. Rather, Hill reveals what it was like on a moment by moment basis to be a part of the First Family, even though he was a government employee. I thought it was well written and certainly it kept my attention.

On a personal level, and true to the six degrees of separation theory, I found in the Epilogue something in common that I have with Agent Hill. We’ve both shaken President Clinton‘s hand. I know, it’s a stretch, but it’s true. While Hill was invited back to the Oval Office to converse with President Clinton about some of the history he had with the Kennedys, I was able to shake President Clinton’s hand when he came to Warsaw, IN, campaigning for his wife in her presidential race against President Obama.

And now, not only do I share that moment, I share some of the thoughts, but never the anguish, of Agent Hill on his retelling of his time with Mrs. Kennedy. I suggest that if you enjoy history, particularly U.S. history, that you obtain a copy of this book. Read it, or listen to it as I have.

O God, You are very great,
My lot is to approach you with godly fear and humble confidence,
for your condescension equals your grandeur,
and your goodness is your glory.

I am unworthy, but you still welcome;
guilty, but you are merciful;
indigent, but your riches are unsearchable.

You have shown boundless compassion towards me
by not sparing your Son,
and by giving me freely all things in Him;

This is the foundation of my hope,
the refuge of my safety,
the new and living way to you,
the means of that conviction of sin, brokenness of heart,
and self-despair, which will endear to me the gospel.

Happy are they who are Christ’s,
in him at peace with you,
justified from all things,
delivered from the coming wrath,
made heirs of future glory;

Give me such deadness to the world,
such love to the Savior,
such attachment to his house,
such devotedness to his service,
as proves me a subject of his salvation.

May every part of my character and conduct
make a serious and amiable impression on others,
and impel them to ask the way to the Master.

Let no incident of life, pleasing or painful,
injure the prosperity of my soul, but rather increase it.

Send me your help,
for your divine appointments are not meant to make me independent of you,
and the best means will be vain without super-added blessings.

And I did.

Oh! the masterpieces I designed, from pyramids to ponytails and seahorse to iPad. On and on I drew, just me and my Galaxy S. Yes, I have big fingers, but that no matter, I deftly created artistic pixels of genius. I played some random players and we were really doing well.

And then, an awful reality popped up on my phone.

I had just put the finishing touches on a delectable, digital delight, when I received a most troubling reply. I must warn you, I don’t use profanity on this blog, nor “IRL” (in real life – for those of you reading the hard copy of this blog), but the reply I received was unrestrained malediction. So, if you prefer not to see what was said, simply scroll to the next paragraph. Ok, I’ve warned you. Here is what was thrown onto my 4″ screen: “WTF, just write it (*erased*) dont draw it“. Now, a quick search on Google provided me with enough understanding that my fellow Draw Something teammate wasn’t asking me to Wash The Fryer, or Wipe The Face of my phone.

And then, a horrible thought struck me.

What if no other players were actually drawing the pictures but simply writing the correct answers on their favorite touchscreen device? What if they were gathering dozens, yea, hundreds of coins to spend on colors other than black, yellow, red or blue? What if they were somehow advancing to the Draw Something “top ten” (if there is such a thing), and I was simply toiling away trying to be the pixelated Michelangelo? What if someone were gaining an unfair advantage over my interwebz integrity?

And then, outrage.

Oh! how far the mighty digital society has fallen! To think that someone would download a free app entitled Draw Something and boil it down to a simple, “let us win, even if we have to cheat”. I was incensed. I was enraged. I quickly drew a response, as it was my turn, and, against all propriety wrote a reply. What did I reply to user win@allcosts4821? In my best swype font I wrote, “I didnt write the answer (*erase for more room*), b/c I didnt think u could read”

I then swiped right and deleted the game, and user, to the bottomless pit of the world wide web.

Oh, and if you’re interested, I’m still available to engage in a rousing game Draw Something, hit me up. But, please, you know I want to draw not write, right?

and another view:

Reblogged from One Beat Blog:

• 
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Coffee and leadership go hand in hand. Sometimes, the best leadership advice that I could give you would be to drink a cup of coffee. I don’t know if there are any leadership books out there that revolve around coffee but I firmly believe that I could be the first to write an entire leadership book based on the principles on coffee.  

Read more… 925 more words

Finally a post on leadership that puts it in caffeinated terms!! As a lover of coffee, and a pastor in church leadership, I get what this post is all about. I know you'll enjoy it too. First, grab a good cup of jo' and settle in for a good read.

Yesterday I posted a couple of quotes on parenting that I picked up in some Biblical Counseling training I have recently received. Today, to continue that theme, I would like to share some aspects of a “Child-Centered” home. These were received in my notes from Faith Ministries. They are not original with me.

How do you define a “child-centered” home?

A child-centered home is one in which a child believes and is allowed to behave as though the entire household, parents, siblings, and even pets exist for one purpose – to please him. (Lou Priolo, The Heart of Anger, p.24)

Elements of a “Child-Centered” Home:

• No consequences: The child clearly sins and the parents allow him to get away with it.
• Manipulation: The child reacts in anger, clams-up, or cries to get what he wants.
• Selfishness: The child gets whatever he wants (it is all about the child, not others).
• Demanding: The child insists that things be done his way and when he wants it.
• Priorities: The child becomes more important than a spouse.
• Responsibilities: The child has no responsibilities (parents do it all for the child).
• Communication: The child tells the parent what to do as if the child is equal or in charge.
• Never Offended: The parents do anything they can to NOT offend their child.

Chance to Interact: Which of these elements might be evident in your home? Which element have you identified as something to change in your home?

Yesterday, (Monday, April 9), I spent a day in Biblical Counseling Training at Faith Ministries in Lafayette, IN. The day was broken into two basic sections: Lecture & Case Observation. The lectures were covering parenting and related issues. It was encouraging to be reminded of several aspects of biblical parenting and challenging to see where I could improve as a father. As the lectures progressed, I came across some quotes that I would like to share with you:

Paul Tripp, Age of Opportunity

When they [our children] fail to live up to our expectations, we find ourselves not grieving for them and fighting for them, but angry at them, fighting against them, and, in fact, grieving for ourselves and our loss.

I was very challenged by this quote for a couple of reasons. I do have expectations for our children – as every parent should. What I find is that I do react sinfully when I perceive that my children are not meeting my expectations, and thus, reflecting poorly on my parenting skills. I then tend to react angrily with them as a result. What should be happening is understanding why the expectations aren’t met. Are they unable to meet my expectations? Are my expectations greater than their capabilities? Is there something distracting them from achievement? Do I truly understand my child and am I encouraging them in pleasing God in all they do? I want to fight for my kids, never against them. God help me!

Jim Newheiser & Elyse Fitzpatrick, You Never Stop Being a Parent

Pride blinds us not only to our own sin but also to the true struggles of others. And just as you wouldn’t entrust your eyes into the hands of a blind ophthalmologist (regardless of his experience), our kids won’t feel comfortable trusting our correction of them when we’re blind to our own sin, inconsistencies and failures.

I have been moving in a direction where I am more open with my children about my failure & sin. I strive to be quick to ask forgiveness. This is important as my children grow older. They need to see that Dad is in need of the grace, mercy & forgiveness that Christ offers and empowers us to give. The battle is always pride in these scenarios. I don’t want to admit that I mess up, sin against and am prejudiced against my own kids…for my own comfort and sinful desires. I have always seen that when I humble myself and seek forgiveness that my kids are quick to reconcile. This helps them also in their seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with others. God is so gracious!

Chance to interact: What do you think of these quotes? How might they impact your parenting?

Proverbs 16:25 – There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Are there any who are grateful servants?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary from fasting?
Let them now receive their due!

If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their reward.

If any have come after the third hour,
let them with gratitude join in the feast!

Those who arrived after the sixth hour,
let them not doubt; for they shall not be short-changed.

Those who have tarried until the ninth hour,
let them not hesitate; but let them come too.

And those who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let them not be afraid by reason of their delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
The Lord gives rest to those who come at the eleventh hour,
even as to those who toiled from the beginning.

To one and all the Lord gives generously.
The Lord accepts the offering of every work.
The Lord honours every deed and commends their intention.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

First and last alike, receive your reward.
Rich and poor, rejoice together!

Conscientious and lazy, celebrate the day!
You who have kept the fast, and you who have not,
rejoice, this day, for the table is bountifully spread!

Feast royally, for the calf is fatted.
Let no one go away hungry.
Partake, all, of the banquet of faith.
Enjoy the bounty of the Lord’s goodness!

Let no one grieve being poor,
for the universal reign has been revealed.

Let no one lament persistent failings,
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death,
for the death of our Saviour has set us free.
The Lord has destroyed death by enduring it.
The Lord vanquished hell when he descended into it.
The Lord put hell in turmoil even as it tasted of his flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,
“You, O Hell, were placed in turmoil when he encountered you below.”
Hell was in turmoil having been eclipsed.
Hell was in turmoil having been mocked.
Hell was in turmoil having been destroyed.
Hell was in turmoil having been abolished.
Hell was in turmoil having been made captive.

Hell grasped a corpse, and met God.
Hell seized earth, and encountered heaven.
Hell took what it saw, and was overcome by what it could not see.

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen, and you are cast down!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life is set free!
Christ is risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead.

For Christ, having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Christ be glory and power forever and ever. Amen!

–John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, 407

(ht: J.Manley)

Lyrics:

Abraham was scared to die, forsook his wife within a lie
I think I know the reason why; cause he was made of dirt
Joseph’s coat was full of pride,
the blood of goats won’t wash you white
if I was his brother, I’d have lied and left him in the dirt

Moses never entered in to land he thought was promised him;
he took his people ’round again to pick manna from the dirt
Solomon became so wise with many wifes and concubines,
he fell for every single lie, yeah, his head was full of dirt

David’s where I got my name,
abusing power, abusing fame
he stole a girl, her husband slain,
left six feet in the dirt

and peter fell to his own shame,
denied his love, denied his name,
he ran away when the people came
to nail him to the dirt

Samson only thought it fair
to let that witch come cut his hair
and look through eyes no longer there
as he crushed them in the dirt

and paul would sit upon his throne
and kill us with the biggest stones
and wrestle with a thorn unknown,
a thorn up from the dirt

but if the nations had a father,
then joseph would redeem his brother,
moses held the waters up,
david would become your love,
solomon would build the temple,
samson came to destroy evil,
peter soon became the rock
and paul would lead the roman flock

and it’s all that I can do to keep my eyes off You,
and it’s all that You can do to keep me, keep me, keep me new

All that I can see is that You can’t see the dirt in me
all that I can see is that You can’t see the dirt in me
all that I can see is that You can’t see the dirt in me
and all that I can see is You

Its a good song for Easter.

This time of the year in Northern Indiana we find all the grass growing speedily albeit unevenly. What results is a lawn that appears as if I gave it a haircut while imbibing. With one teen son at Indiana University and the other working his part-time job, I decided that it fell to me to mow the lawn (totally disregarding the doctor’s orders). When we moved to our current home just over 6 years ago, it took me about an hour & half to push-mow my lawn. Yesterday…well, it took all day. Of course I had to grab several breathers and a couple of breaks just to let the back rest a bit. Throw in a spaghetti lunch, and I was soon lying on the picnic table bench contemplating dandelions.

My Neighbors Must Hate Me

My neighbors must hate me for the sheer amount of dandelions in my yard. Looking to the north and south from our yard you will see wonderful lush lots of well manicured green lawn. My lawn is primarily yellow in color. What is even more amazing that no matter if I mow over the dandelions, they always seem to either duck out of the way or grow back with incredible fierceness. I have often wondered when mowing what God thinks of all these people and corporations so bent on ridding the world of a beautiful, useful flower.

Useful?

If you wondered what I meant by “useful”, then you are certainly a product of this tech-driven, super-Walmart society. You can eat dandelions you know. Many of you might know that you can eat the greens, and perhaps you have – they aren’t bad at all. But let me direct you to the wonderful fried world of the dandelion blossom! You batter and pan-fry these flowers just as you would zucchini or other such delicacies.  Allow me to direct you through the process.

• Firstly, find a batch of mature dandelions away from the area your dog can travel on his chain. Although the blossoms may appear to be larger and more appealing there, I suggest you travel a bit farther to the back of your property to find more suitable, edible candidates.
• Secondly, pick blossoms that are fully open and fully mature. Similar to what I have in the photo.
• Thirdly, when preparing, rinse and clip as much of the green away from the blossom without causing it to fall apart.
• Fourthly, use a batter similar to how you fry other vegetables, or perhaps your favorite panfish batter.
• Fry them up – really this step can’t be too difficult. Use your fav oil, or real butter if you’d prefer.
• Serve them as an appetizer or side dish.
• Enjoy their sweet, succulent deliciousness.

What Do Ballasts Have to Do With Anything?

Nothing really. I thought I didn’t have enough to blog about with the dandelion but see I have plenty. The issue with my light is that in my “office” in the basement (which is really just a cement block haven of firearms and a cheap computer desk) is a couple of hanging, fluorescent shop lights. It seems like the office was getting darker, or my eyesight was rapidly failing, so I purchased a couple of new “sunlight” bulbs.  Placing those in my non-working light fixture was simply an exercise of futility. I ended up having to return to the hardware store in search of a ballast to fix the situation.

Part Numbers are for Other People

What I found was that there were a kazillion, plus a few, various types of ballasts for a 48 inch hanging shop light. After contemplating whether I should call home and try to get someone to take my light apart and retrieve the proper part number, I opted to shop for a new light. What I found was a conspiracy beyond conspiracies! The new 48 inch shop lights are cheaper than a new ballast! I grabbed a desirable light fixture, patiently listened to the cashiers degrading a late co-worker as I paid, and then headed home with prize in hand. Installation was a breeze and I am sitting in the warmth of new “sunlight” fluorescent lightness.

And I now I have an extra light fixture to repair, if I so desire, or simply to store in the attic of the garage with a mountain of other such treasures.

The Book:

I was immediately drawn into unPlanned from the very first chapter. It is in these opening remarks of this book that Abby describes one of her two personal experiences with abortion. As she describes her ordeal, and her response to it, my heart was crushed. She does not use over-the-top graphic detail, but she does explain exactly what was happening to her, and the life within her. This first chapter only drove home the absolute necessity to keep up the fight for the unborn. I hurt for Abby as she related her experiences.

The rest of the book reveals in easy to read format, the battle that Abby found herself involved in. Beginning with her first desire to assist women in the choices they had to make, to that day when she literally ran out of her Planned Parenthood office, to the ensuing trial that took place, every page of this book provides riveting details of the Life Battle.

The Battle

The story of Abby Johnson is only one of millions of stories that are affected by the battle for Life. Abby reveals the Culture of Death that Planned Parenthood, not-so-secretively, puts forward in every appointment they schedule. While not every Planned Parenthood office is a clinic where abortions are committed, every office does promote a Culture of Death. What Abby Johnson does very well is to put a face on the debate. The arguments between pro-life advocates and pro-choice advocates are not simply relegated to the courtrooms of America. The arguments determine the very life of living persons, yet unborn.

To be pro-life is to be in line with what our Creator God designed. God has poignantly revealed that life is sacred.

To be pro-choice is to be out of line with what God has revealed. To abort is to be actively opposed to God.

Abby Johnson demonstrates that even while she entered the Planned Parenthood organization with the best of intentions of helping women, eventually it forced her to embrace a bottom line financial decision to terminate unborn human beings. What I find reassuring from unPlanned is that it makes clear that pro-life advocates are very concerned about the situations women find themselves in, the tough choices they must make, and the determination to assist these women in every area of life.

Perhaps the most powerful chapter, aside from the first, is the last. Abby describes how, looking back, she sees God working to bring her to the point of embracing a pro-life stance. Prayer was a monumental part of her transformation. People partnered together to pray for her for over 8 years. God answered that prayer in his timing. This portion of the book encouraged me in my own prayer life.

For those blog readers from Calvary Baptist, I have donated my copy of unPlanned to the CBC library. I would encourage you to read it for yourself. I would then encourage you to become involved in our own pro-life movement here in Kosciusko County. If you have questions on how to do that, please message me.

Chance to Interact: In what ways have you supported the pro-life movement? I am convicted by this statement from a recent pro-life rally I attended, “You don’t save little boys & little girls lives by simply saying you’re pro-life“. And that is a true statement.

Abby Johnson’s Facebook Page

Read all about the book here: unPlanned the Book. Also watch the trailer for the book.

Pregnant? Need help? Click here for resources through Abby Johnson’s website

Work at Planned Parenthood? Click here for resources through Abby Johnson’s website

The gospel is so foolish (according to my natural wisdom), so scandalous (according to my conscience), and so incredible (according to my timid heart), that it is a daily battle to believe the full scope of it as I should. There is simply no other way to compete with the forebodings of my conscience, the condemnings of heart, and the lies of the world and the Devil than to overwhelm such things with daily rehearsings of the gospel.

Reblogged from Thistletown Baptist Church:

I do not know if I could state this any better. This is a post to be read slowly and digested completely.

Use this tool for your own information and for informing your friends and family. Hat-tip to the National Right to Life for making me aware of this post, and for other important Life issues.