This audio clip (you can also play it below) is a wonderful help and good follow up to a recent post on training young children to participate in worship and church.

C.J. and Carolyn Mahaney discuss how they developed a love of the local church in their children.  They speak clearly about the priority of church family over biological family and how this impacts our ordering of activities.

Peter Jeffery is one of my favorite present preachers.  I have recently found several simple talks he has recorded for youtube.

The first is an invitation to those who know the gospel but have not committed themselves to the great gain for fear of the risk of what they may have to give up.

The second is a parable of a train ride that reminds us of what we have in Christ

How simple salvation is! How great it is!

For those of you that have enjoyed R.C. Sproul’s TABLETALK over the years, here is an offer that may be very attractive.  If you have never heard of it, it is a very helpful monthly devotional.

That’s right, one of the blog world’s favorite words: “free.” If you are not aware, Tabletalk published a great issue on “The New Atheism” this month. In light of this timely topic, we would like to equip you with extra copies to discuss atheism with those close to you — or, maybe more importantly, those distant from you and God.

Simply send us an email (follow details at bottom), letting us know how many you could make use of, and we’ll get them out to you at no charge.

Here’s the flow of the issue:

In the opening page, editor Burk Parsons sets the stage by showing us how this new atheism is actually not new at all. That is followed by R.C. Sproul encouraging us to be constantly on our guard against irrational arguments. Next, Ravi Zacharias provides a solid, biblical answer to the accusation that Christians are mentally deluded. Then, John Blanchard explains convincingly that contrary to popular belief, science does not rule out the biblical account of God as Creator, followed by David Robertson revealing to us the true face of evil. These articles are in addition to all of the columns, which you can access online here.

Please send an email to tabletalkoffer@ligonier.org and include “Tabletalk Offer” in the subject line of the email, your full name, address, phone number, and how many copies of the August 2008 issue of Tabletalk you can make use of. Offer is good while supplies last.

(HT:TC)

Isabella, a golden retriever at the Safari Zoological Park, east of Caney, Kan. nurses Wednesday, July 30, 2008, three white tiger cubs she adopted after they were abandoned by their mother at the park. The cubs were born on Sunday. (AP Photo/The Daily Reporter, Rob Morgan)

Here is the full story.  Not only is this cute, it is amazing.  A dog taking care of wild cats!  It reminds me of what we have through Christ in the care of God our father.  Since the fall of man we are these wild creatures, not like God.  He is holy, we are sinful and rebelious.  He is perfect and we fall short.  Yet in His great love and mercy He takes us in, as if we are His own children.  He cares for us as He would His own Son.  That amazes me even more.

Note:  Jerry Bridges will be Preaching at Edgewood Baptist Church both Sunday morning and evening November 9, 2008

“I think my parents’ pool hall fence was appropriate. But there is a lesson in my experience for all parents: Don’t focus on the fence. If you erect a fence for your children - for example, in regard to certain movies or television programs- be sure to focus on the real issues, not the fence. Take time to explain and re-explain the reason for the fence.

If you decide, as my parents did, that you don’t want your children going to the local pool hall, explain why. Distinguish between playing the game itself - which has neither negative nor positive moral value - and the atmosphere you are trying to protect them from.

For all of us, it may be good to have some fences, but we have to work at keeping them as just that - fences, helpful to us but not necessarily applicable to others. We also have to work at guarding our freedom from other people’s fences.

Some of the fences in our respective Christian circles have been around a long time. No one quite knows their origin, but by now they are “embedded in concrete”. Although it may cause conflict if you violate one, you must guard your freedom. To paraphrase Paul, “Stand firm in your freedom, and don’t let anyone bring you into bondage with their fences.”

I’m not suggesting you jump over fences just to thumb your nose at the people who hold to them so dearly. We are to “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19). Use discretion in embracing or rejecting a particular fence. But don’t let other coerce you with man made rules. And ask God to help you see if you are subtly coercing or judging others with your own fences.”

Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace, p. 124

Or the day Comcast killed the music.  Sorry about the lack of posts, no internet at the office this week has kept we away from the blog.  What does Comcastic mean to you?  Hopefully they will have things up and running next week.

The title is all I will say on the phone call.  I had several posts I intended to write today.  They will have to be written another day.  For now I am reduced to posting the lyrics of a Sovereign Grace Hymn.   (it is not my pain, but feeling the pain of another)

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

So quiet my restless heart, quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart in You

In our first ever guessing game here at Blasted Gourds we had some wonderful guesses.

Rob Moore figured out it was a Wordle, but that does not count for much.  Darrell Brandenburg got stuck on the shoe aspect, but gave some wonderful guesses.  Rachel Mahl figured out what portion of Scripture it was and Todd Fisher figured out that it was one of my sermons.  All in all, no one got it perfectly correct, but Todd and Rachel came the closest, so they win the big Gulps (Rob I will get an extra straw for you)!

This wordle is from the Sermon I preached on 2 Kings 6:8-23 entitled the Message of Elisha.  The footprint represents the beauty of the one who brings good news, and I love the way it emphasizes God and his goodness.  Psalm 62 and Hosea 13 were quoted so that is how they come in, as well as the bear cubs.  Thanks for playing!

Well, we have no winner in the what is it contest, but we have had some good guesses.  It is a Wordle, Rob Moore gets props for getting that right.  But the content of the wordle has yet to be guesses.  The answer will be revealed tomorrow, so you still have time to guess!  Maybe we should involve a prize?  Winner gets a Ricker’s Pop.

The west side of Anderson has taken a real hit business and restaurant wise. There are few sit down places to eat and many vacant businesses. I have good news to report: Pizza Hut on Nichol Avenue has remodeled and added a Wing Street! The staff there has always been great during the lunch hour and now the place has a fresh new look and wings (they will start serving from the new menu next week). The new decor has a sports theme with two flat panel TV’s and framed jerseys from local school including, Frankton, Highland, ICA, and Lapel. This franchise is locally owned and operated by a man from Lapel. Maybe we need to start a Wings night for the College group this summer!