Mining Grace

Bathroom Rennovation

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:53:52 -0800

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Today is bathroom rennovation day. Stay tuned for updates throughout the day. For now, I'm heading to Lowes with my subcontractors.

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For my PCA Brethren, the WCF and BCO on your Phone

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:36:00 -0700

When I posted to Twitter yesterday that I loved my editable Evernote version of the Westminster Confession of Faith I didn't realize I would get so much feedback. And to answer the first question, "No, I'm not amending the WCF." What I meant was that I have a copy on my iPhone (that syncs with my desktop) in which I can bold, italic, underline, and make personal notes.

How did I do it? It's actually pretty easy. All you need is...

Evernote on your desktop and iPhone or Blackberry
This copy of the the WCF
This copy of the BCO

Let's start with a quick overview of Evernote. Think of it as a synced storage receptacle for everything. You know those moleskine notebooks that you keep but struggle to fill and catalog, well Evernote is your online moleskine. You can put everything into it. A new note can contain text. You can add a file to it, like a pdf or an mp3. You can even add pictures. I have a "notebook" of all the drawing my kids make for me. You can use it to store everything. And it is all synced on your phone, online, and on your desktop (Mac and Windows). All of your files are also searchable, including pdf's and legible jpgs. So if I search all 420 of my notes for "Jesus" I'm going to get sermon notes, articles, the WCF, and the BCO all throwing back results. Pretty cool, huh? I'll let you experiment more with Evernote on your own.

So how do you get the Westminster Confession onto Evernote? Easier than you think.

Open your desktop version of Evernote and your favorite web browser. Go to this or another copy of the WCF. I chose this one for two reasons. One, its the OPC and if anyone is going to have a good copy of the WCF its the sons of Machen. Secondly, it has a print version. Evernote is great for copying html versions of documents but if you want something you can edit easily—especially on a phone—choose the simplest text version you can find—usually labeled "printer friendly". Now that you have your text version of the WCF, select all the text. Then, if you can copy and paste it into a new note in your Evernote software. If you have the Evernote add-on in Firefox you can right click your selected text and select "Add to Evernote".

Now that its in Evernote, simply press the sync button and its automatically on your Phone too. Because its a text file you can add your notes or any kind of highlighting, underlining, bolding, etc (but no amending without a 2/3rds majority in subsequent General Assemblies!). It's also, of course, searchable. So if you search all your notes for say, "general equity", then your going to get chapter 19 of the WCF. Neat, huh!

What about the blessed BCO?

The process is virtually the same. The only difference is that you're going to add the pdf version of the BCO to a new Evernote note instead of text. Since a good text-only copy of the BCO is hard to come by I just use the pdf version. It doesn't let me edit it but hey, who really wants to take notes in the BCO?

Download your pdf version of the BCO to your desktop. Go to Evernote and create a new blank note. Literally drag the BCO pdf file into the new note pane and voila!, the BCO is in your Evernote system—phone, desktop, online, etc. And again, its searchable. So if you're sitting in Presbytery and want to know what in the world an evangelist is, you can simply search all your notes for "evangelist" and low and behold, there are the parts of the BCO that talk about evangelists.

Pretty simple, hopefully. Let me know if you have any trouble.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Why we don't do Halloween

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:14:54 -0700

The Hollands don't do Halloween.

To be honest, Halloween makes my stomach turn. I'm a pastor. I daily face death and its destruction—physical and spiritual. In hospitals, counseling sessions, and sermons I teach people about Jesus's triumph over sin, death, and the devil. Mortality, spiritual malevolence, demons, twisted sensuality, devils and the like aren't just costumes at RiteAid. They are daily realities.

So when it comes around to Halloween and I see ghoulish decorations, 5 year old zombies, 8 year -olds in fish net stockings, bloody corpses in front yards, and resurrecting dead it hits a little too close to home. How can I laugh and give kids sugar highs when I'm facing grotesque, cartoonish representations of the things that literally haunt people's souls? Do I really want my kids thinking that death and the demonic are only lawn decorations for a few weeks a year?

I know what you're thinking, "Dude, lighten up!" Well, I've tried and have been unsuccessful. I'm not angry at Halloween or the folks that will pad my street on the eve of October 31. I'm not really all that concerned with the historicity of the cultural practice. I don't even think there is a whole lot of malevolence going on—in fact I'm more concerned with the relative ease in interacting with Halloween on a thematic level.

I just can't keep from cringing when I think about it.

It comes down to the cross. I actually believe that Jesus triumphed over malevolent spiritual forces at the cross—Col 2:15. The cross has changed me and my affections in ways I could never have predicted. I'm more serious about death and the spiritual world than I've ever been. I'm also more joyful in God's power over sin, death, and devil through Christ than I have ever been.

For so many Halloween is about good times, candy, and fun. Put simply it is joyful frivolity and dress up. For me it is sobering and sharpening.

So we don't do Halloween. Not because we think it earns us anything with God. It's just the way the cross has affected me and my family.

Now for all of the disclaimers:

If you participate in Halloween with a clear conscience then please continue to do so. I don't think you're a pagan Satan worshiper.
I know not all of Halloween is about death and the creepy. If you want your little pumpkin to parade up and down the street with Freddy and 12 year old bar maids, then go for it.
I love my neighbors and actively and aggressively look for ways to tell them about Jesus. The whole, "You're not really into evangelizing if you don't do Halloween" is one of the more stupid arguments I've heard.
I'm not really into Halloween alternatives either.
The whole argument not do Halloween based on its historical basis is silly too. Although, if Halloween occurred for the very first time this year, would you participate? Something to think about.
Don't worry about my poor deprived children. We have a large tupperware full of costumes and I give them enough candy to make a dentist's drill finger twitch. They do just fine on the other 364 days a year when it comes to dress-up and sugar consumption.

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She's Back

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:28:47 -0700

After two and a half months with friends in MS, our dog, Nollie, is
back with us. The "pet moving company" worked out great. Other than a
little skinny, she's the same old Nollie. With her back and a move
this weekend, things are finally beginning to settle down here in
Culpeper.

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Cousins

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:44:16 -0700

Download now or watch on posterous

IMG_0172.MOV (3548 KB)

Here is a brief cameo of Charlie and his cousin being sweet to each
other.

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Wind and Soccer

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:08:40 -0700

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Download now or watch on posterous

IMG_0050.mov (2795 KB)

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Fiery Fall Flora

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:14:36 -0700

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Admin Staff

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:50:39 -0700

Here is my administrative staff hard at work sorting mail for the
church plant.

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The Earth…

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:26:25 -0700

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.

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Big Fonts in Posterous

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:58:00 -0700

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PosterousBigFont.rtf (42 KB)

I had a few folks ask me how I got the big fonts on my posterous blog. I'm definitely not an html/css pro but I do tinker a little bit. If you use the advanced option under theme editing you will get access to some of the CSS code to your blog. If you delete it all and then paste in all the text in this attached file then your font will be bigger.

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What Children Sing

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:14:40 -0700

Sometimes its not much fun being the pastor's son. But there are some perks—like having the ear of the guy who plans the liturgy each Sunday. At breakfast this morning, Will, my 5 year old, asked if he could pick the songs we sing this Sunday. Realizing the large potential pool of music my 60 month old child might choose from I reluctantly agreed. To my grateful astonishment he chose, O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, and When Peace Like a River (aka It Is Well With My Soul). In all honestly—with all of my seminary training and ministry experience—I couldn't have picked any better.

Why would Will pick these? In part its because of a decision Hallie and I made early in parenthood.

When we started worshiping together in our home as a family we had to choose whether we would go with A Mighty Fortress is Our God or Jesus Loves Me This I Know. We chose the mighty fortress. Our reasoning went like this.

How much does our 2 year old really understand about the song Jesus Loves Me This I Know? Very little. Later, as he grows up, he'll understand a great deal about that simple statement and hopefully be able to articulate with warmth and depth what it means for Jesus—the second person of Trinity—to love him enough to die on the cross in his place. So, on the principle that comprehension will come later and give weight to memorized songs, we thought, "Why not teach our kids the weighty hymns and psalms of the church?" If I had to give a car to my child now that he would not be able to drive till he was 16 I'd rather give him a 2009 Chevy Pickup than an 1975 AMC Gremlin. One will haul freight and the other will barely haul itself.

Sitting at the table this morning I was glad for my son's selections but my joy extended beyond that. As my son grows he'll have songs he can grow into, songs that will grow with him. And for the timing being, my boy would rather ask God in song for a thousand worshipers of Jesus rather than simply hoping that he is one of Jesus's sunbeams—whatever in the world that means.

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First Tooth

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:45:13 -0700

It's an exciting morning as Will, my 5 year old, lost his first tooth.

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Napoleon on Jesus

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:27:00 -0700

I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force! Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.

—Napoleon Bonaparte

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Online PCA Presbytery Maps

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:31:05 -0700

Sam DeSocio has put a tremendous amount of work into a resource that I think many in the PCA will benefit from. He has compiled—from General Assembly minutes—a map of all the PCA Presbyteries. You can download the files from his site and use Google Earth to view individual Presbyteries or all of them together.

One of the beauties of Presbyterianism is working to plant churches through the partnership of established churches laboring in distinct geographies. These maps are a practical resource to help see the kingdom of Christ spread across our own country and the world.

Thanks, Sam!

Online PCA Presbytery Maps

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Avett-ntually

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:18:42 -0700

I've never been one of those cool guys that finds out about the cool music years before anyone else. I'm a blissful bandwagon audiophile. I've seen more and more folks digging the Avett brothers. I checked out this video on a Twitter recommendation (@stevekmccoy) and really liked it. I'm a sucker for lyrical depth and musical talent. Apparently The Avett Brothers have both.

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Of Catepillars and Soccer

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:12:50 -0700

Download now or watch on posterous

IMG_0135.MOV (1390 KB)

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Our Vision Document

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:34:20 -0700

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CCPCVision.pdf (122 KB)

Since I was just printing it out to copy for Sunday, I figured I'd post it here too. This is the vision document for our church.

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UVA from a different perspective

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:02:58 -0700

This guy has created a pretty fascinating blog by climbing and photographing various UVA landmarks—mostly at night. Even if you're not a Virginia grad, I thought you might get a kick out of this guy's creativity.

(HT @hchorey)

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Just Ordered this Today

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:22:26 -0700

I just ordered the new second edition of The Book of Psalms for Worship. I love the psalms—especially sung. Unfortunately my favorite psalter is packed up in a box somewhere until we find more permanent housing for my books. Can't wait to try this new one out and see how it sings.

If you're interested in how I came to love singing the psalms I'm including an article I wrote awhile back on that very topic.

Mining Grace

Bathroom Rennovation

For my PCA Brethren, the WCF and BCO on your Phone

Why we don't do Halloween

She's Back

Cousins

Wind and Soccer

Fiery Fall Flora

Admin Staff

The Earth…

Big Fonts in Posterous

What Children Sing

First Tooth

Napoleon on Jesus

Online PCA Presbytery Maps

Avett-ntually

Of Catepillars and Soccer

Our Vision Document

UVA from a different perspective

Just Ordered this Today

Luray