okcalvin

Why God Makes You Wait - Tim Challies

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 16:00:00 -0500

Why God Makes You Wait - Tim Challies: There are times in the Christian’s life where we wait upon God, where we wait for relief from some kind of afflication, and where we wait for a long time for God to answer prayer. I am certain that you have experienced times like these, and know that the temptation in such times is to despair and to demand, to grow angry and impatient. But in The Mystery of Providence John Flavel warns: Though God means to give you the …

Update on Madelyn

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:18:00 -0600

Madelyn's doctors say that her skin grafts look good. She is not in pain from her burns. We've added an online option is you would like to donate to help with the costs of her care. Click on the badge below:

Please Help With Expenses for Burn Victim from Our Congregation

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:15:00 -0600

1/19/2011

Madelynn, one of our four year old covenant children at our church, was badly burned in mid-January.

She is home from the hospital with skin grafts.

The family has incurred much expense in this event, and we are appealing to the broader Christian community to help us help her family.

You may donate to defray Madelynn's health expenses by sending a check to the church: Beal Heights Presbyterian Church 614 SW Park Ave Lawton, OK 73501-5239

Please make the check out to the "Beal Heights Presbyterian Church Mercy Fund" and put "Madelynn" in the check memo space.

Thank you, in advance for your help and love in the Lord Jesus!

Photos from Korea

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:42:00 -0500

Photostream of pictures from my current Korea Trip.

From Sean's Balcony in Itaewon, Seoul, Korea

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:39:00 -0500

Geek Assignment

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:55:00 -0500

Here's what I'd like: whenever we have an NWS warning for our county, the animated .GIF from Weather Underground for the radar covering our county is sent to my mobile phone (I'm cheap - I have unlimited text and MMS, but no mobile web). It would be nice if the image would be updated/resent every 15 minutes or so until the warning expires. I've diddled some with Yahoo Pipes, but my haxxor skillz are minimal.

After a while, even a dry heat makes one miserable

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:04:00 -0500

5-Day Forecast for ZIP Code 73505

Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday
108° F \| 76° F	103° F \| 74° F	104° F \| 76° F	103° F \| 74° F	101° F \| 74° F
Clear	Clear	Partly Cloudy	Clear	Clear
Hourly	Hourly	Hourly	Hourly	Hourly

Let us ever walk with Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:48:00 -0500

Let us ever walk with Jesus,
Follow His example pure,
Flee the world, which would deceive us
And to sin our souls allure.
Ever in His footsteps treading,
Body here, yet soul above,
Full of faith and hope and love,
Let us do the Father’s bidding,
Faithful, Lord, abide with me;
Savior, lead, I follow Thee.

Let us suffer here with Jesus,
To His image e’er conform;
Heaven’s glory soon will please us,
Sunshine follow on the storm.
Tho’ we sow in tears of sorrow,
We shall reap in heav’nly joy;
And the fears that now annoy
Shall be laughter on the morrow.
Christ, I suffer here with Thee;
There, oh, share Thy joy with me!

Let us also die with Jesus.
His death from the second death,
From our soul’s destruction, frees us,
Quickens us with life’s glad breath.
Let us mortify, while living,
Flesh and blood and die to sin;
And the grave that shuts us in
Shall but prove the gate to Heaven.
Jesus, here I die to Thee
There to live eternally.

Let us gladly live with Jesus;
Since He’s risen from the dead;
Death and grave must soon release us.
Jesus, Thou art now our Head,
We are truly Thine own members;
Where Thou livest, there live we.
Take and own us constantly,
Faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren.
Jesus, here I live to Thee,
Also there eternally.

Words: Sigismund von Birken, 1653 (Lasset uns mit Jesu ziehen); translated from German to English by J. Adam Rimbach, 1900.
Music: Lasset Uns mit Jesu Ziehen, Georg G. Boltze, 1788

1776-2009

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Sat, 4 Jul 2009 11:21:00 -0500

Memorial Day, 2009: List of Oklahomans Who Died In the Line of Duty in Iraq or Afghanistan

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:25:00 -0500

Following is the list of Oklahomans who died in the line of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. It includes those who listed Oklahoma home towns with the U.S. Defense Department. Iraq 2003 -Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas A. Blair, 24, Broken Arrow. Died March 24. -Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron Dean White, 19, Shawnee. Died May 19. -Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Doyle W. Bollinger Jr., 21, Poteau. Died June 6. -Army Sgt. Steven W. White, 29, Lawton. Died Aug. 13. -Army Spc. Stephen M. Scott, 21, Lawton. Died Aug. 23. -Army Pvt. Jason M. Ward, 25, Tulsa. Died Oct. 22. -Army Sgt. Ross A. Pennanen, 36, Shawnee. Died Nov. 2. 2004 -Army 2nd Lt. Luke S. James, 24, Hooker. Died Jan. 27. -Army Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence S. Colton, 32, Oklahoma City. Died April 11. -Marine Cpl. Scott M. Vincent, 21, Bokoshe. Died April 30. -Army Staff Sgt. Erickson H. Petty, 28, Fort Gibson. Died May 3. -Army Spc. James E. Marshall, 19, Tulsa. Died May 5. -Army Spc. Kyle A. Brinlee, 21, Pryor. Died May 11. -Army Spc. Sonny Sampler, 23, Oklahoma City. Died July 8. -Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Nice, 19, Nicoma Park. Died Aug. 4. -Marine Pfc. Nachez Washalanta II, 21, Ardmore. Died Aug. 21. -Air Force Capt. John J. Boria, 29, Broken Arrow. Died Sept. 5. -Marine Lance Cpl. Lamont N. Wilson, 20, Lawton. Died Sept. 6. -Marine Lance Cpl. Nathaniel T. Hammond, 24, Tulsa. Died Nov. 6. -Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan D. Winkler, 19, Tulsa. Died Nov. 26. -Army Sgt. Carl W. Lee, 23, Oklahoma City. Died Nov. 28. -Marine Staff Sgt. Melvin Blazer Sr., 38, Moore. Died Dec. 12. 2005 -Army Spc. Robert T. Hendrickson, 24, Broken Bow. Died Feb. 1. -Army Spc. Jeffrey S. Henthorn, 25, Choctaw. Died Feb. 8. -Army Staff Sgt. Jason Hendrix, 28, Claremore. Died Feb. 16. -Army Spc. Adam N. Brewer, 22, Dewey. Died Feb. 25. -Army Chief Warrant Officer Steven Shephard, 30, Purcell. Died June 27. -Army Spc. Jared D. Hartley, 22, Newkirk. Died July 15. -Marine Sgt. James Graham III, 25, Coweta. Died Aug. 1. -Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian K. Joplin, 32, Hugo. Died Oct. 4. -Army Sgt. 1st Class Brandon K. Sneed, 33, Norman. Died Oct. 10. -Army Pfc. David Jeffery Martin, 21, Edmond. Died Oct. 31. -Army Pfc. Travis W. Grigg, 24, Inola. Died Nov. 15. -Marine Cpl. Joshua J. Ware, 20, Apache. Died Nov. 16. -Marine Cpl. Jeffry A. Rogers, 21, Oklahoma City. Died Nov. 16. 2006 -Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason L. Norton, 32, Miami. Died Jan. 22. -Army Staff Sgt. Lance M. Chase, 32, Oklahoma City. Died Jan. 23. -Army Pvt. Joshua Francis Powers, 21, Skiatook. Died Feb. 25. -Army Spc. Joshua Pearce, 21, Guymon. Died Feb. 26. -Army Spc. Bryan L. Quinton, 24, Sapulpa. Died May 4. -Marine Lance Cpl. Hatak Yearby, 21, Overbrook. Died May 14. -Marine Sgt. Justin Noyes, 23, Vinita. Died July 2. -Army Staff Sgt. Clint J. Storey, 30, Enid. Died Aug. 4. -Marine Cpl. Jared M. Shoemaker, 29, Tulsa. Died Sept. 4. -Army Sgt. John A. Carroll, 26, Ponca City. Died Sept. 6. -Army Sgt. Clint E. Williams, 24, Kingston. Died Sept. 14. -Army Spc. Joshua Sheppard, 22, Quinton. Died Dec. 22. 2007 -Army Col. Brian D. Allgood, 46, Oklahoma. Died Jan. 20. -Marine Lance Cpl. Trevor A. Roberts, 21, Oklahoma City. Died March 24. -Army Spc. Wilfred Flores Jr., 20, Lawton. Died March 31. -Army Spc. Ryan S. Dallam, 24, Norman. Died April 6. -Army Pfc. Jerimiah J. Veitch, 21, Dibble. Died June 21. -Army Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, 22, Oklahoma City. Died June 21. -Army Pfc. Thomas R. Leemhuis, 23, Binger. Died June 21. -Army Spc. Derek A. Calhoun, 23, Oklahoma City. Died June 23. -Army Pfc. Jaron D. Holliday, 21, Broken Arrow. Died Aug. 4. -Army Staff Sgt. William D. Scates, 31, Oklahoma City. Died Aug. 11. -Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey D. Kettle, 31, Madill. Died Aug. 12. -Marine Cpl. Jeremy Allbaugh, 21, Luther. Died July 5. -Marine Cpl. Bryan J. Scripsick, 22, Wayne. Died Sept. 6. -Army Staff Sgt. Kevin R. Brown, 38, Harrah. Died Sept. 25. -Army Pvt. Cody Montana Carver, 19, Haskell. Died Oct. 30. 2008 -Army Spc. Micheal E. Phillips, 19, Ardmore. Died Feb. 24. -Army Capt. Torre R. Mallard, 27, Oklahoma. Died March 10. -Army Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Hake, 26, Enid. Died March 24. -Army Spc. William E. Allmon, 25, Ardmore. Died April 12. -Army Sgt. 1st Class David R. Hurst, 31, Fort Sill. Died June 7. -Army Sgt. Dan Eshbaugh, 43, Norman. Died Sept. 18. -Army Cpl. Michael Thompson, 23, Kingston. Died Sept. 18. -Army Warrant Officer Brady Rudolf, 37, Moore. Died Sept. 18. -Army Spc. Stephen G. Zapasnik, 19, Broken Arrow. Died Dec. 24. 2009 -Army Cpl. Stephen Scott Thompson, 23, Tulsa. Died Feb. 14. -Army Cpl. Gary L. Moore, 25, Del City. Died March 16. Afghanistan 2003 -Army Pvt. Jerod R. Dennis, 19, Antlers. Died April 25. 2004 -Army Sgt. Kyle Seitsinger, 29, Oklahoma City. Died Jan. 29. -Army Sgt. Daniel L. Galvan, 30, Moore. Died Aug. 12. 2005 -Army Staff Sgt. John G. Doles, 29, Chelsea. Died Sept. 30. -Army 1st Sgt. Tobias C. Meister, 30, Jenks. Died Dec. 28. 2006 -Army Cpl. Derek A. Stanley, 20, Tulsa. Died June 5, 2006. 2007 -Army Sgt. Buddy Hughie, 25, Poteau. Died Feb. 19. 2008 -Army Maj. Scott A. Hagerty, 41, Stillwater. Died June 3.

Missions Support Letter from My Daughter and Son-in-Law

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:25:00 -0500

Dear Family and Friends,

We are writing you all because we have an opportunity this summer, August 8-15th to go on a construction/medical/ dental missions trip with our church Village Presbyterian Church to Guadalajara Mexico, to work with the people of the Eirene Mission/Church. On our trip we will be working in a medical clinic triaging, and performing anything from general Dr.’s visits to small out patient surgeries. Two other teams will be working in a dental clinic or will help in the different construction needs of the Eirene mission. What a chance to minister to others!

We are excited about what God is going to do in our lives and in other people's lives through this ministry. We do, however, need your help. We need to raise $1,500 for each of us. We are asking that you donate as soon as possible. Anything you can do to help will be greatly appreciated. We ask that if you are not able to donate to please pray for us and our mission team, as we minister to others.

Here is the website to the mission that we will be serving at www.eirenemexico.org. Please make out checks to Beal Heights Presbyterian Church and mark them for "Mexico," and send them to Beal Heights Presbyterian Church, 614 SW Park Ave, Lawton, OK 73501-5239.

In Christ,

Jacob and Beth Donaldson

Sermon Page Active Again!

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:59:00 -0600

The BHPC Sermon Page is active again! Head over to okbhpc.blogspot.com to listen and download.

"God has given glory for you, but also you for it"

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:56:00 -0600

Here is a letter from a woman who truly understood the sovereignty and goodness of God in the midst of her trial. Her husband, the great Puritan preacher, Christopher Love, was falsely accused and sentenced to death. His wife wrote this letter to him just before his scheduled execution.

July 14, 1651

Dear Christopher,

Before I write a word further, I beg you to think that this is not your wife now writing, rather a friend. I hope you have freely given up your wife and children to God, who has said in Jeremiah 49:11 -- "Leave your fatherless children. I will preserve them alive, and let your widow trust in Me." Your Maker will be my husband and a father to your children. Oh that the Lord would keep you from having one troubled thought about your family. I desire to freely give you up to the Father’s hands and not only to look upon it as a crown of glory for you to die for Christ but as an honor for me that I should have a husband to leave for Christ. I dare not speak to you nor have a thought within my own heart about my unspeakable loss but I wholly keep my eye fixed on your inexpressible and inconceivable gain. You are leaving children, brothers and sisters to go to the Lord Jesus, your Eldest Brother. You leave your friends on the earth to go to the enjoyment of saints and angels and spirits of just men made perfect in glory. You leave earth for heaven and exchange a prison for a palace. And if earthly affections should begin to arise I hope that a spirit of grace that is within you will quell them quickly, knowing that all things here are but dross in comparison of those things that are above. I know you will keep your eye fixed on the hope of glory which makes your feet trample on the loss of earth. My dear, I know God has given glory for you, but also you for it. But I am persuaded that He will sweeten the way for you to come to the enjoyment of it. When you are putting on your clothes tomorrow morning, oh, think I am now putting on my wedding garments to go be with my everlasting Redeemer. And when the messenger of death comes to take you from prison to take you to the block, let him not seem dreadful to you, but look to him as a messenger that brings you tidings of eternal life. And when you climb the scaffold, think, as you told me you would, that you’re climbing aboard the fiery chariot to carry you up to your Father’s house. And when you lay down your precious head to receive your Father’s stroke, remember what you said to me: "Though my head shall be severed from my body yet at that moment my soul will be united with my Head, the Lord Jesus, in heaven. And though it might seem something better that I am leaving this life sooner than we had wanted, let us consider, Christopher, that this decree is the decree and the will of our heavenly Father and it will not be long before we shall enjoy one another in heaven again. Let us comfort one another in these things; be comforted my dear heart. It is but a little stroke and you shall be there where the weary shall be at rest and where the wicked shall cease from troubling us. Remember that you may eat dinner with bitter herbs but you shall have a sweet supper with Christ that night. My dear, by what I write I do not intend to teach you, for these comforts I received from the Lord by you teaching me. I will write you no more nor ever trouble you further but commit you to the arms of God with whom you and I will be forever. Farewell, my dear. I shall never see your face until we both behold the face of the Lord Jesus at that great day.

Meme, Extended

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:32:00 -0600

As per Bill's directive, I am supposed to pick up the nearest book with at least 123 pages, turn to the 123rd page, find the 5th sentence and post the three sentences immediately after that.

In compliance, I forthwith post the said sentences:

6. If God says to us, "You are mine', we shall be his forever: 'This God is our God for ever and ever' (Psa.48:14).You cannot say you have health, and you shall have it forever; you have a child, and you shall have it forever; but if God is your God, you shall him forever. The covenant of grace is a royal charter, and this is the happiness of it, it is made for eternity.

I hereby notify by saying "tag, you are it":

Another Brick In The Wall

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Wed, 9 Jul 2008 23:40:00 -0500

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Indpendence Day Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 16:38:00 -0500

O God, by Your creating mankind in Your own image You did bestow on all people certain, unalienable rights. We come today in rich gratitude for these God-given liberties which are assumed in the Declaration of Independence, described in the U.S. Constitution & longed for world over. Thank You, Father, for Your directing providence & gift of courage that guided our forbearers to stand against tyranny & to fight for true liberty. Please protect our soldiers, sailors, airmen & marines today who face numerous dangers & depravations to defend these liberties. Shield our police officers & firefighters who risk much to keep us safe. Guide our national leaders, our legislators, governors & judiciary that they will be firmly steered by our founding principles, protecting & promoting liberty & justice for all – born & unborn. Prosper all honest industry, our farmers, our educators, public servants, the self-employed, the medical & helping professions, & others; that our country may flourish. Deliver us from all natural catastrophes, plagues, famines, pestilence, drought, war, & rebellion. May the religious always be safe to live their faith in this nation. May the citizens of this land always strive for a godly moral & ethical excellence in every situation. & now, Lord, we joyfully commend these United States of America into Your safe keeping, & implore You for Jesus Christ's sake to hear our prayers. Amen

______________
As delivered by Pastor Michael Philliber, Providence Presbyterian Church (PCA), Midland, Texas, 4 July 2008 to the city at the Independence Day Parade.

ALGERIA: CHRISTIANS SENTENCED FOR SPREADING FAITH

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 09:47:00 -0500

from Compass Direct News

Converts from Islam report discrimination following convictions.

ISTANBUL, July 3 (Compass Direct News) – A court in western Algeria convicted two Muslim converts to Christianity yesterday for illegally spreading their faith.

The court in Tissemsilt, 110 miles southwest of Algiers, handed Rachid Muhammad Essaghir, 37, and Djallal Dhamani six-month suspended sentences and 100,000-dinar (US$1,660) fines. The men were found guilty of "distributing documents to shake the faith of Muslims."

"Once they get the written sentence, they will appeal straight away," a close friend of Essaghir told Compass following the trial.

The case has received both local and international publicity following a wave of trials this year against Algerian Christians for evangelism and illegally practicing their faith.

In most cases the Christians have been charged under a presidential decree from February 2006 that restricts religious worship to government approved buildings. The decree, known as Ordinance 06-03, also outlaws any attempt to convert Muslims to another faith.

Though no Christian has yet served jail time on religious charges, several still on trial or appealing their convictions have said that negative publicity has damaged their businesses and family life.

Habiba Kouider, facing a three-year sentence after police stopped her while she was carrying several Christian books, has been kicked out of her family's home. Kouider's brothers learned about her conversion to Christianity after her case sparked national and international media attention.

"When her brother found out she was a Christian, he commanded her to leave the house without worrying about what would happen to her," an assistant to defense lawyer Khelloudja Khalfoun wrote in an e-mail last month. The convert to Christianity is temporarily staying with another sister while searching for more permanent accommodations.

Chaban Beikel, a pastry maker, was fired after his boss discovered that he was one of four Protestants convicted of evangelism in Tiaret city last month, the same source said.

Third Conviction

For Essaghir, yesterday's ruling is his third conviction for illegal religious activity this year.

Police had stopped Essaghir and Dahmani in the vicinity of Tissemsilt in June 2007 while transporting a box of Christian literature in one of their cars. Unknown to them, the two men were convicted in absentia in November 2007 and each given two-year sentences and 5,000-euro fines.

After discovering the court ruling in May 2008, the Protestants requested a retrial, their right under Algerian law.

At a hearing in Tissemsilt last week, the state prosecutor backed down from the initial jail sentence and fine, not requesting any punishment for the men. The move gave defense lawyer Khalfoun hope that her clients would be acquitted.

"It could have possibly been an order from someone above him," Khalfoun's assistant wrote, speculating on the prosecutor's retreat from the previous verdict.

Essaghir was also previously convicted with Beikel in June on charges of evangelism and handed a six-month suspended sentence and a 200,000-dinar (US$3,282) fine.

In February Essaghir and two other Christians were charged with "blaspheming the name of the Prophet [Muhammad] and Allah" and threatening the life of a convert to Christianity who later returned to Islam.

In a written verdict published on May 28, the three men were handed three-year suspended sentences and 500-euro fines. The Christians' appeal is due to be heard on July 15.

'God Is In Control'

Essaghir has now moved from Tiaret to the coastal city of Oran with his wife and 1-year-old daughter after police shut down his Internet café in April.

Officials closed the business for failure to obtain necessary written permission from local police. But Essaghir said that this was just an excuse to harass him for his work as an evangelist, as many Internet cafés in Algeria function without such permission.

"Essaghir is doing very well, it's a miracle," said his close friend, who spoke with the Christian following yesterday's trial. Despite his numerous convictions, the friend said, "he doesn't care anymore; God is in control."

Algerian government officials claim that Christians are not discriminated against in the North African country. In recent months several officials have made statements that the aim of certain evangelical missionaries in Algeria is to politically destabilize the country.

He died before the attainment of victory...

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 06:42:00 -0500

reposted from 7/3/2006

National Park Service - Signers of the Declaration (John Hart)

JOHN HART - New Jersey

Signing the Declaration represented John Hart's one significant act during an ephemeral tour in the Continental Congress, his only role in national politics. Yet, like most of the signers, he was dominant in community and State affairs. And he and his family directly experienced the tragedy of the war. Unfortunately, he died before the attainment of victory.

The year after Hart's birth in 1711 at Stonington, Conn., his parents emigrated to New Jersey and settled on a farm in the Hopewell vicinity. Hart was to live there and till the soil all his life. In 1740 he married and began raising a family of 13. In time, while gaining the sobriquet "Honest John," he acquired considerable property, including grist, saw, and fulling mills, and emerged as a civic leader. From the 1750's until the outbreak of the War for Independence in 1775, despite a paucity of education, he worked his way up the political ladder in Hunterdon County and the State. He held the offices of justice of the peace, county judge, colonial legislator (1761-71), and judge of the New Jersey court of common pleas. In the legislature's dispute with the Royal Governor, Hart opposed parliamentary taxation and the stationing of British troops in the colony. During the years 1774-76, he attended the New Jersey provincial congresses, where he achieved the vice-presidency, and won appointment to the council of safety and the committee of correspondence. In June 1776 he and four other Delegates were chosen to replace the incumbent conservatives in the Continental Congress. The new delegation arrived at Philadelphia just a few days before the votes for independence on July 1 and 2 and cast affirmative ballots.

In August 1776, just after Hart signed the Declaration, he departed to accept the speakership in the lower house of the New Jersey legislature. That winter, during the British invasion of the province, the redcoats wreaked havoc on his farm and mills and drove him into hiding among the hills surrounding the Sourland Mountains. When he ended his exile in the wake of the American victories at Princeton and Trenton, he discovered that his wife, ill at the time of the attack, had died and his family scattered. In 1777-78 he sat again on the council of safety, but failing health forced his retirement. He died the next year, at the age of 69, on his Hopewell farm. He is buried in the yard of the First Baptist Church at Hopewell.

Son Stephen, Aug 2007, at cemetery in Hopewell, NJ

The Tenth Amendment and the Tenth Commandment

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:38:00 -0500

Seems the Oklahoma legislators actually got some gumption, or something:

http://www.ok-safe.com/files/documents/1/HJR1089_int.pdf

Uh-huh. Does that mean that we'll forswear any more participation in and receipt of monies from any Federal program or activity that is not specifically enumerated or delineated in said Federal Constitution?

(sfx: "feet shuffling, crickets chirping")

I thought so.

Unless we step-up to the plate and act the part, we'll never be a free people.

Outside.in

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:49:00 -0500

Looking over Outside.in and their location based info system. Should be good

[where: 73505]

Opening Prayer at General Assembly Worship Service, Tuesday, 10 June 2008

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:53:00 -0500

Prayer of Petition and Adoration

Magnificent, Triune God! You are glorious in majesty, abounding in lovingkindness and truth! You are the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. In You We live and move and have our being.
Who is like You, Oh God? Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers? Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in? Who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing? It is You, Oh Lord!
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. We worship and adore You, our Creator and Sustainer.
Oh Sovereign Lord Jesus, worthy are You, You Who are the express image and likeness of the Father, Who is that One to Whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that you are LORD. Oh Lamb, because you were slain, and with your blood You purchased people for God, We worship and Adore You, our Great High Priest.
O gracious Spirit, Who leads us into all Truth, Who cries out on our behalf with groanings which cannot be uttered, We worship and Adore You, our Counselor and Guide.
Father, Son & Holy Spirit, inhabit the praises of your people this night. Help us to worship You in Spirit and Truth.
O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead us; let them bring us to Your holy hill, and to Your dwelling places.
May (we) be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that (we) may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
We ask it in the Name of our Savior Jesus, Who taught us to pray, saying,

Our Father, Who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

On earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.

Your Word Is Truth

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 10:47:00 -0500

The rule is: Listen and allow the Word to make the beginning; then the knowing will nicely follow. If, however, you do not listen, you will never know anything. For it is decreed: God will not be seen, known, or comprehended except through His Word alone… He did not want us to let it lie there in neglect, as if He were speaking with mice under the bench or with flies on the pulpit. We are to read it, to think and speak about it, and to study it, certain that He Himself (not an angel or a creature) is speaking with us in it.

Luther [Works, vol. 48, p. 148]

aa.com: $15 for first checked bag

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:37:00 -0500

Thanks, American! What's next? Pay toilets on flights under two hours' duration? $1 per cocktail napkin fee? Seat belt usage reimbursement? 50 cent beverage glass disposal fee when the flight attendant moves about the cabin? You want ice with that lukewarm ginger ale? That will be a quarter per cube, please.

I used to have American Airlines as my favorite carrier. No longer.

Playing the "What If?"

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:44:00 -0500

Last night I was toying with a mapping tool that I sometimes use to scope out bike routes. It is based on the Google Maps API, and has features that allow small line segment drawing for routes and also a graph for elevation changes along the entirety of the route.

The thought ran through my head -- what if we have hugely expensive oil / $7-8/gal gasoline prices. How would that affect my pastoral ministry -- especially making calls on the flock? How would that affect the ability of our far-flung membership to make it to mid-week activities? To worship services on the Lord's Day? How would that affect the fellowship of the saints, how we interact with one another?

Some of our families live 18-50 miles from the church's facilities (farthest reaches, from north to south=70 miles; east-west=68 miles). If things got really bad, my guess is that our elders would probably think that real oversight of these families would be impractical and recommend that they look seriously at 1) relocating their membership to an evangelical congregation in their immediate environs; or, 2) physically relocate to the neighborhood surrounding the church's facilities (some are already either doing that or planning to do that in the near to middle future).

Another possibility is to "circuit ride" in making pastoral visits (both in town and out of town) (have Schwinn, will travel). I envisioned a scenario where I'd ride out to visit a family out in the boonies, spend the night with them, and then ride to the next family. I've already done a couple of pastoral visits in-town using my bike, as well as going to appointments to check up on folks, drink coffee, etc.

Mid-week prayer meetings might be shifted to include online participation. We'd probably shift more to a truly parish-type ministry.

Three Psalms from Sons of Korah

noreply@blogger.com (John Owen Butler) — Sat, 3 May 2008 19:19:00 -0500