Google even made a commercial making fun of us iPhone users.

On Tuesday, while attending my daughter Molly’s orchestra concert I was greeted with a warning that I was nearly out of space on my iPhone 6s (running 11.2.5). Thinking that was rather odd, I checked the storage.

58.4 GB of 64 GB available.

So, we go about trying to grab some video. 67 seconds later recording stops and my iPhone is telling me it is full again. At this point I grab my wife’s iPhone and record the rest of the concert.

Looking at the settings, I don’t see any reason there is an issue. We will fight this battle another day.

At the office, I upgraded the iPhone to 11.2.6, but didn’t address the storage issue further.

Jump to Wednesday evening, still struggling with my iPhone saying the storage is full as I have not taken any of the recommendations to remove apps, large attachments, or old messages from the phone. My phone now shows 63.5 GB used, but that’s not the crazy part. Photos is now consuming 20.37 GB and it shows it wasn’t used since Sunday 2/18.

How did Photos consume an extra 17 GB?

What is going on here Apple? How do 20.37 GB of Photos fit in the 6 GB of free space I originally had on Tuesday?

Somehow another 1.5 GB appeared in Photos within the next 45 minutes (and only consumed 200 MB). At least now, Photos was reporting that I had saved the previous screenshots.

Another 1.5 GB of Photos!

At least point, you might be saying why don’t you turn on iCloud Photo Library and Optimize iPhone Storage? Well, they’ve been on the entire time. That why my nearly 10,000 item Photos collection was only consuming 3.06GB in the first place. To be safe, I checked agin. Yep, still on.

Yes, please, optimize iPhone storage.

Here I am today with an iPhone that is barely usable. Most apps are refusing to run. I have restarted the device. I have toggled settings on/off. I am not sure what to do next besides trying backup and restore. Should I just jump ahead to nuke and pave and start over?

Out of curiosity I checked Photos.app on my iMac today to see if the iPhone is still syncing correctly with iCloud Photo Library. Nope. None of the screenshots have synced since Tuesday night.

Syncing to iCloud Photo Library is not working.

Clearly my iPhone is having issues with iCloud Photo Library, but I am not sure how to resolve. Yes, I already checked, there is 111 GB averrable in my iCloud Drive. Is there a Photos database issue? An issue with iCloud? An issue with iOS itself? Has anyone seen this before? So far, I haven’t seen any similar reports.

This might be some isolated case, but reports that Apple is slowing iOS development can only be taken as a good sign. I am hoping they return to the functional high ground one day in the near future, before it is too late.

Update 1:

Just tried to backup locally to the iMac which has 141 GB free as I type. Failed. Not enough disk space!

My results?

You are 93% conservative and 7% liberal, you are Very Right Wing!

Your political views skew very right wing, so it should come as no surprise that you’ve probably voted Republican in the last couple elections. You believe in shrinking the size of government, eliminating entitlement programs, and maintaining a robust military. In regards to social issues, you may not agree with where the country is heading, but you voice your opposition nonetheless, exercising your constitutional-right to freedom-of-speech whenever necessary.

Now, how about you?

50 Shades of Grey pic.twitter.com/D8UqPvWr4Y

— PublicistaEnfurecido (@angrypublisher) February 10, 2015

Let’s talk about not supporting this film.

If you want to see 50 Shades of Grey eat a black crayon and a white crayon.

— Honest Toddler (@HonestToddler) February 12, 2015

Do not go see this film. Do not read the book if you haven’t already. Do not waste your money. Do not support this rubbish.

Why? Here are numerous critiques:

• Owen Strachan: How ‘50 Shades of Grey’ harms women & Jesus saves them
• Kevin DeYoung: No Grey Area
• Albert Mohler Fifty Shades of Shame — The Evolution of Pornography
• Kevin DeYoung: Not Even a Hint – As Christians, we should shun all forms of sexual immorality and avoid thinking about them
• Joe Carter: Fifty Shades, Twilight, and Teaching Young Women to Desire Abusers
• Joe Carter: Rejecting the Industrialized Sex of ‘50 Shades of Grey’
• Adelle M. Banks: ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ moves evangelicals beyond black and white sexuality
• Wendy Alsup: Fifty Shades of Genesis 3:16
• Tracy Clark-Flory on Salon.com: “50 Shades” of coercive sex: The movie is even worse than the book
• Tim Challies: 50 Shades of Porn
• Helen Thorne at Challies.com: 7 Lessons from 50 Shades of Grey
• Marshall Segal at Desiring God: Fifty Shades of Nay: Sin Is a Needle, Not a Toy
• The Rambling Curl: Fifty Abusive Moments in Fifty Shades of Grey (Strong Language Alert)
• Leslie Leyland Fields: A Modest Proposal: 50 Shades of Grey in Every Classroom!
• Matt Fradd: Study Finds 50 Shades Readers More Likely to Binge Drink, Have Unsafe Sex and Eating Disorders
• Matt Fradd: Movie Critics Slam Upcoming 50 Shades Film
• Rebekah: My Official Review Of Fifty Shades Of Grey

Sex is what married couples do behind closed doors, not what Christians pay money to watch with popcorn. http://t.co/I82VMS3EBu

— The Gospel Coalition (@TGC) February 11, 2015

Videos

• 50 Things to Know About “Fifty Shades of Grey”
  

• 4 Lies About Sexuality in Fifty Shades of Grey
  

Do you still want to go see this filth?

Family Sharing in #iOS8 is a big bag of hurt so far. #disappointed

— Eric Wallace (@ecrosstexas) September 20, 2014

Like many Apple users, my family is heavily invested in the Apple universe. We have 4 users, 3 iPhones, 2 Macs, 2 Apple TVs, and 1 iPad. All users have their own Apple ID for iMessages and FaceTime. My Apple ID has been used to purchase all services and media so we can easily share it between our devices.

The announcement of iOS 8’s Family Sharing feature looked to be a great addition and problem solver. I would love to be able to approve the purchases my kids make. I can’t tell you how many songs we’ve bought from iTunes that we already “owned” after ripping from our physical CD collection and sharing via iTunes Match.

Yesterday, we began the process of upgrading our devices and upgrading 2 of our 3 iPhones. Things seemed to go pretty easy setting up my wife’s iPhone. I had (accidentally) left my Apple ID as the iTunes user ID when restoring from the backup and accepted the Family Sharing invitation for her Apple ID. She has full access to all the media we have purchased.

Setting up my daughter’s phone has been another story entirely. I followed the same process to back up her old iPhone and restore to her new iPhone. I signed into her Apple ID account for iClould and accepted the Family Sharing invite. I used her Apple ID to initially sign into iTunes. Going to the App Store > All Purchases does NOT bring up the list of expected family members and our “Family Purchases”. So I changed the iTunes ID on her phone to my Apple ID. At this point the Apple Store appears completely borked. I get a message saying that her iTunes account is tied to a different iCloud account.

Another oddity, while I am getting this message (and unable to see my purchase history), I can download apps previously purchased with my Apple ID. If you try to buy a new app, you get the Ask Permission dialog box.

After several hours I changed her iTunes ID back to her iCloud account ID and she can now see all the media as expected.

I honestly have no idea what is going on and if I want to continue using Family Sharing.

Why?

Let’s see what we’ve uncovered so far:

1. Family Sharing feels like it is still in beta.
2. iTunes Match does not appear to work with Family Sharing.
3. How can you share iCloud disk space? It would seem to be a logical item to share just like iTunes Match.
4. We already had a shared “Family” calendar that my apple ID owned and shared. Can this be merged with the Family Sharing calendar?
5. It doesn’t look like 2nd generation Apple TVs will be able to use Family Sharing. This will probably spell the end of the line for my first Apple TV.
6. You cannot correct the DOB for a user on the Apple ID site to have the true year of birth for a child that you previously had to lie about in order to get them an account in the first place. You must make a new ID.

I really hope things improve with Family Sharing.

We love Uncle Ken Serpas and pray for God’s mercy in his battle with ALS.

We have issued our own challenge to John Sharber and Ami Gunter.

Mentioned

• ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
• Public Service Announcement: Vertical Video Syndrome
• Why are long-faced progressives trying to ruin the Ice Bucket Challenge?
• Attention Pro-Lifers: Be Careful Where You Send Your ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Donation
• Send Your Ice Bucket Challenge Donation to Ethical, Successful Adult Stem Cell Research
• Grace is the Gospel

• Dallas Stars, Texas A&M Football, Texas Rangers, and yes, even the Dallas Cowboys.

• Twitter, Django, Netflix, Apple TV, MacBooks, iPhones.

• Mark Levin, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Edward Snowden, and many more who are trying to reform our country. We need to get back to the constitutional republic that the Founding Fathers gave us.

• Hard Hitters: A wonderful group of girls (and their families) that are a joy to coach.

• In-Laws: Extremely generous and supportive. I can’t begin to say thanks for all the help they provide with the kids.

• Parents: Generous to a fault. They would do anything for me and my family.

• Teazzers: My bosses, co-workers, customers, and suppliers which allow me to earn a living and provide for my family.

• Trinity Presbyterian Church: I am so thankful that my family hears, sings, prays, speaks the Gospel while sitting under the teaching of faithful ministers. I’m also thankful for the friendships we’ve made.

• My three children: Emma, Molly, and William who are a never ending source of joy.

• My fabulous wife Shannon: I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else by my side.

• Jesus Christ: His substitutionary, atoning sacrifce on the cross and His resurrection for my justification. I am so undeserving of the love of the great triune God.

Reformation Day is to celebrate the grace of God on sinners who deserve His wrath.

— Chris Land (@jchrisland) October 31, 2013

from Instagram

Links for Reformation Day 2013

I constantly stand in need of reformation. #ReformationDay

— Matt Boswell (@MattBoswell) October 31, 2013

• Justin Taylor: An Interview with Carl Trueman on Luther’s 95 Theses
• Ligonier: What Is Reformation Day All About?
• Ligonier: Reformation Day Free Download: R.C. Sproul’s Luther and the Reformation
• Mockingbird: The Reformation Redirection
• Desiring God: The Reformation: Trick or Treat?
• TGC: ‘Sola Scriptura’ Radicalized and Abandoned
• Kevin DeYoung: The Glory of the Reformation: A Clean Conscience
• Scotty Smith: A Prayer of Thanks for the Gospel on Reformation Day
• It’s only 1,460 days until the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation

Here I Stand

from Instagram

Obey your conscience and pray for the same courage that descended upon Luther at Worms. http://t.co/1AWI0v0UGm

— Kevin DeYoung (@RevKevDeYoung) October 31, 2013

A New 95

Lastly, Chris Rosebrough has posted A New 95 Theses: Challenging The Excesses Of American Evangelicalism that everyone should read:

Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, the public bulletin board of his day. In like manner, we post these 95 theses on the door of the internet. Like the original theses, these are debatable, for we believe that it is through vigorous debate that the spirits are tested and truth is revealed.

In publishing these theses, we do not intend to foment division, but to expose those who are creating division within the body of Christ. We invite all who love the Gospel of Jesus Christ to engage in this debate. We do so in the spirit of the great Reformer, Martin Luther, as we implore the mercies of God upon His Church, for the sake of Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Church and shepherd of our souls.

Notice: Images in my Instagram photos come from the 2003 movie Luther. I hope you enjoyed my tweets (@ecrosstexas) with quotes from the movie.

In the fall of 2005, Jars of Clay performed at Fellowship Bible Church North as part of their “Redemption Songs & Stories” tour. One of the songs they performed from the album Redemption Songs was “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”. Drawn from John 13:35 the song reminds us that our love for one another will testify to our love for Christ.

In today’s text, Ephesians 4:1-6, we see Paul address similar themes. Let’s dive right in and apply this teaching.

Not so fast! I’ve heard it said whenever you see therefore, you need to ask “what’s it there for?”. Here in Ephesians, Paul’s therefore marks the transition from Paul’s teaching on doctrine in chapters 1-3 to life application built on that doctrine in chapters 4-6. Paul’s application becomes empty moralism without this gospel foundation.

The triune God of the universe has created a new people for himself, from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9). In doing so, God has reconciled the rebel to himself. God has also unified a divided humanity. We are called to live as ambassadors of an outpost of heaven here on earth. Christ has won the battle to reconcile mankind to God and mankind to one another.

So how exactly are to we live as His new people?

• with all humility and gentleness,
• with patience,
• bearing with one another in love,
• eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit

Why? Paul reminds us that we are united in Christ:

• one body and one Spirit,
• one hope,
• one Lord,
• one faith,
• one baptism,
• one God and Father of all

Will you join me and strive to live out our calling as Christians; to love the family of God in Jesus Christ; and, to keep the peace in the this family? In so doing this “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”.

If you’d like to dive into this passage a bit more, I might suggest that you check out these sermons from Ligon Duncan at FPC Jackson:

• Walking Worthy of Our Calling | listen to the mp3
• Walking Worthy of Our Calling (pt 2) | listen to the mp3
• One Body, Spirit, Hope, Lord, Faith, Baptism, God and Father | listen to the mp3
• One Body, Spirit, Hope, Lord, Faith, Baptism, God and Father (pt 2) | listen to the mp3
• One Body, Spirit, Hope, Lord, Faith, Baptism, God and Father (pt 3) | listen to the mp3

Get the Jars of Clay album Redemption Songs at iTunes | Amazon.com

The scene in Revelation takes place in the throne room of God. The great scroll that outlines God’s plans to restore the universe and reign in sin is there. Sadness fills the room as it seems no one is worthy to open the scrolls. Tears stream down John’s face. Is there anyone on heaven or earth worthy?

Then when all hope looks lost, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Christ is announced as the worthy conqueror (v 5). The blood stained, seven horned, seven eyed Lamb of God makes his entrance. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing a new song of worship celebrating the Lamb’s redemption (v 9-10). A great angelic choir joins to offer a tribute to the Lamb’s deity (v11-12). Finally, every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea offer join in confessing that the Lamb (Jesus) is the Lord to the glory of God.

Let’s take a closer look at the redemption of the Lamb. Jesus was slain, and by his blood he ransomed a people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. Marinate on that for a while. The people of God come from every single people group!

How does this Biblical truth impact our thinking? Think about issues like racism and ageism. Or attitudes that lead us to separate from sinners like those people. What about missions? Are we motivated to share the gospel with our enemy? Do our churches (our small groups, our bible studies, etc) look like the community shown in verse 9?

Looking ahead, what a great day it will be when all believers are gathered together at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19). All of God’s people, from every tribe and language and people and nation, from all of human history gathered together called through the gospel of grace.

Many Christians love to recite verses from the Bible such as Romans 8:28. “God is on my side; it will all work out,” they say. “God is in control and working everything out for my good,” they will tell you. It almost sounds like God is a State Farm agent, ready to help out whenever trouble strikes.

But is that really what the Bible teaches? Just open it up and look at Romans. Paul’s thoughts don’t stop at verse 28. There are two more sentences that too many of us ignore. The Bible tells us that God is not just working things out for our good. No, God is working all things together so that His elect will be conformed to the image of Christ and attain eternal  salvation.

[28] And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called  according to his purpose. [29] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 ESV)

Paul is teaching us that God wants to do more than just help solve our earthly problems. He is conforming you into the image of His Son. In fact, there is no guarantee that God will solve your plight. Just ask John the Baptist (Luke 7:20-23). Does that discourage you? It shouldn’t.

Watch this clip with Matt Chandler.