Tattoos, Parents, & the Rebellious Heart

I just read a short article by Russell Moore answering a 19 year-old's following question: "Should I get a Christian tattoo (even if my parents don't like it)?" What I really appreciated about his response was not his answer (though I did completely agree with it), but his wise thought for the teenager at the very end of his response.

Earlier in the article, the teenager says he (or she) would like to get a cross tattoo with the words, "Flee Immorality: You Were Bought With a Price" to serve "as a measure of accountability for himself as the years go by, in case the zeal he has for the gospel ever wanes & he's ever in a place of temptation." Good motives, but I hope he hears Dr. Moore's reply.

"A tattoo won’t stop you from wrecking your life, no matter what it says. The rebellious heart gets what it wants, and will do what it takes to get there. An immoral man can easily scoff at the tattoo, or even blaspheme as a result of it in the throes of his rebellion. Instead of working to embed the gospel on your skin, embed it on your conscience. Cultivate repentance, confession, and seeking the life of Christ. The answer for you isn’t your own skin ink but Someone Else’s nail scars."

Little Seg's Crib

Early November 2009, one of the men in our Care Group at church approached me and offered to help me build a crib for our baby boy on-the-way. What's ironic is that I was planning on asking him if he would help me strip another crib of its stain and restain it, but that offer fell through a few days before. So, when he offered, I quickly said yes.

Like I said, we started about 3 months ago, and needless to say, the whole process took awhile. We began the construction by cutting all of the vertical slats down to size with this manly chop saw.

After all of the slats were cut, we rounded off the sharp corners with a table router. Very dangerous!

Here are a couple pics of what the slats looked like after we had cut them to size, routed the edges, and inserted dow rods in the top and bottom for easy assembly and added durability. I believe there were 44 slats in all. This is where we spent a lot of our time.


After we had finished the slats, we had to create the horizontal and vertical boards. Each of these boards had to be cut, routed, and sanded to perfection. In addition, we tapped holes into one side of each board for the slats to assemble into.

Next was the assembly of each piece of the crib. After gluing and inserting each slat into the top and bottom boards, we had to clamp each crib piece and let them dry overnight.


Overall, the crib had 4 pieces that we made ourselves.

Once each piece was complete, we assembled them all together using metal inserts and 2" bolts.

Now came the "fun" part. And by "fun" I mean "not very fun." Staining... We had to apply 2 coats of Red Mohagoney Minwax stain and then 2 more coats of Polyurethane to seal the stain. Here's the first coat of stain.

And the second...

And here's after 2 coats of polyurethane. All done!!


So after 3 months of hard labor, good talks, and Moody Radio sermons, we finished. Though it took awhile, it was a blast. I learned a lot about woodworking, life, and family in the process. Kevin, thanks so much for your help. I couldn't have done it without you. I owe you a cigar and a beer.

So Little Seg, here's your crib. Sleep tight!


Also, Misha recently posted some pictures of Little Seg's finished room. Check them out!

Abort73.com

For all of the Pro-lifers out there, here is an excellent website worth checking out: Abort73.com. This website supplies people with a plethora of information about abortion and what we can do to stop it. Here's a short video introducing Abort73.

Wrong Question: "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?"

Ever ask the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Let me suggest that this is not the correct question to be asking. Why? The question is flawed. There are no good people in and of themselves.

"None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." - Romans 3:10-12

So, let's correct the question and restate it. "Why do bad things happen to bad people?" Nobody asks this question. Why? Because the answer is too evident... They deserve it. We all have sinned against a holy, righteous, & infinite God. Therefore, all we deserve is an immediate & brutal death.

Once we can grasp this truth, it's time to ask the hardest question of all. "Why do good things happen to anyone?" Good luck answering this one apart from Jesus Christ. I'll let Voddie Baucham Jr. take it from here.



Gotta give props to my wife. She first posted this video on her blog a few days ago, and I'm borrowing it. Thanks honey!

Abortion Contradictions?

Thirty-seven years ago yesterday, the Supreme Court determined, in Roe v. Wade, that abortion is a "right" due to any woman. Since then, nearly 50 million unborn children have died as a result of that decision. In light of the recent "anniversary," Kevin DeYoung posted some apparent logical contradictions in various state laws and the Roe v. Wade decision. I've reposted all of it below, since it's well worth the time reading.

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Alabama defines person to include an unborn child in utero at any stage of development, regardless of viability.

Alaska provides that a defendant convicted of murder in the second degree or murder of an unborn child shall be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of at least 10 years but no more than 99 years.

Arizona define negligent homicide, manslaughter, first and second degree murder, and specifies that the offenses apply to an unborn child at any stage in its development. The law states that for the purposes of punishment, an unborn child shall be treated like a minor under 12 years of age.

Arkansas defines “person” to include an unborn child in utero at any stage of development. “Unborn child” means a living fetus of 12 weeks or greater gestation.

California defines murder as the unlawful killing of a human being or a fetus with malice aforethought.

Florida defines murder as the willful killing of an unborn quick child by any injury to the mother.

Georgia stipulates that a person commits the offense of feticide if he willfully kills an unborn child so far developed as to be ordinarily called “quick” by causing any injury to the mother of such child. The penalty for feticide is imprisonment for life.

Idaho declares that murder includes the unlawful killing of a human embryo or fetus under certain conditions. The law provides that manslaughter includes the unlawful killing of a human embryo or fetus without malice.

Illinois includes the following as criminal offenses: intentional homicide of an unborn child; voluntary manslaughter of an unborn child; involuntary manslaughter of an unborn child; reckless homicide of an unborn child.

Indiana defines feticide as the intentional termination of a human pregnancy with an intention other than to produce a live birth or to remove a dead fetus.

Iowa provides penalties for the nonconsensual termination or serious injury to a human pregnancy.

Kansas makes it possible to charge someone with murder, manslaughter, vehicular homicide or battery for killing or harming a fetus. It provides the definition of “person” for those specific crimes, including the definition of an unborn child that includes any stage of gestation from fertilization to birth.

Kentucky allows the state to charge an individual with a separate crime for terminating a fetus during the commission of an act that injures or kills a pregnant woman.

Louisiana defines feticide as the killing of an unborn child by the act, procurement, or culpable omission of a person other than the mother of the unborn child. State law defines “person” as a human being from the moment of fertilization and implantation and also includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not. “Unborn child” means any individual of the human species from fertilization and implantation until birth.

Maine defines the crimes of murder, felony murder, assault, aggravated assault and elevated aggravated assault against an unborn child.

Maryland establishes that a prosecution may be instituted for murder, manslaughter, or unlawful homicide under certain conditions for an act or failure to act that causes the death of a viable fetus.

Massachusetts rules that a viable fetus is within the ambit of the term “person” in the vehicular homicide statute.

Michigan defines manslaughter as the willful killing of an unborn quick child by any injury to the mother of such child.

Minnesota provides penalties for an assault to a pregnant woman and subsequent harm to an unborn child.

Mississippi includes the death of a fetus in wrongful death statute as murder or manslaughter.

Nebraska defines murder of an unborn child in the first degree, murder in the second degree, and manslaughter.

Nevada defines manslaughter as a person who willfully kills an unborn quick child by any injury committed upon the mother of the child.

North Carolina states that any person, who in the commission of a felony, causes injury to a woman, knowing the woman to be pregnant, in which injury results in the miscarriage or stillbirth by the woman is guilty of a felony that is one class higher than the felony committed.

North Dakota defines the murder and manslaughter of an unborn child and provides penalties.

Ohio law applies to a person which includes an “unborn member of the species Homo sapiens, who is or was carried in the womb of another.”

Oklahoma defines unborn child as a human being.

Pennsylvania defines homicide of an unborn child. An individual commits criminal homicide of an unborn child if the individual intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently causes the death of an unborn child.

Rhode Island stipulates that the willful killing of an unborn quick child by any injury to the mother of that child is deemed manslaughter.

South Carolina provides that a person who commits a violent crime that causes the death of, or injury to, a child in utero is guilty of a separate offense and that the person must be punished as if the death or injury occurred to the unborn child’s mother.

South Dakota defines homicide as murder in the first degree to include the death of a person or any other human being, including an unborn child.

Tennessee defines “another” and “another person” as a viable fetus of a human being when any such term refers to the victim of any act made criminal by the provisions of the law.

Texas defines an individual as a human being who is alive, including an unborn child at every stage of gestation from fertilization until birth.

Utah declares that a person commits criminal homicide if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly causes the death of another human being, including an unborn child.

Virginia declares that any person who unlawfully, willfully, deliberately, maliciously and with premeditation kills a fetus is guilty of a Class 2 felony.

Washington declares that a person is guilty of manslaughter in the first degree when he intentionally and unlawfully kills an unborn quick child by inflicting any injury upon the mother of such child.

West Virginia recognizes an embryo or fetus as a distinct unborn victim of certain crimes of violence against a person, including homicide and manslaughter.

Wisconsin declares that any person who intentionally destroys the life of an unborn quick child; or causes the death of the mother by an act done with intent to destroy the life of an unborn child is guilty of homicide.

“They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus” (Romans 2:15-16).

Note: The state laws are taken from the website of The National Conference of State Legislatures, Fetal Homicide Laws.

Read This Before You Die

Read this before you die. Guaranteed, you won't regret it. Then, be sure to pass it on.

Biblical Storyline: Bread from Heaven

I'm still continuing to read slowly through the whole bible noting the the overarching story of the Bible. I'm currently in Exodus 18. The following few posts will be some reflections on what God has revealed to me this far through Scripture.

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Soon after God rescued his people from Egypt out of slavery, the Israelites began to grumble against Moses, Aaron, and, ultimately, God. They had little food to eat while traveling in the wilderness. "Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full!" (Ex 16:3). Now remember... God had delivered his people out of the hands of the Egyptians. Would he not also provide food for their long journey to the Promised Land? Sadly, the Israelites had already forgotten all that God had done for them.

But God is merciful even when we sin against him. He replies, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you" (16:4). Every morning, God will rain down manna from heaven for his people to eat, and they are to gather only what they can eat for the day. By doing this and not gathering as much as possible for as long as possible, they are showing that they trust God to continue to provide food for them. And so it happened. God sent manna from heaven to his people so that they would not die as they traveled through the wilderness.

So what does this have to do with the overarching message of the bible? Skip ahead to John 6. The day after Jesus fed the 5000, he is stopped by the same crowd. After a short discourse, the crowd asks Jesus what sign he could give to prove he was sent by God. "What sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus replied,

"Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."

To steal the phrase of Pastor Tim Keller, Jesus is the greater and better bread from heaven. The story of the manna from heaven during Israel's journey in the wilderness not only serves as a story of God's provision for and preservation of his people, but it also serves as a pointer to Christ. I believe God is saying, "Israel, I will rain down manna from heaven every morning for you eat so that you will not die of hunger. But there is a a greater and better manna coming. I will send him once, and if you take just one bite of this bread, you will never hunger again."

As I was reading through these passages, I created a comparison table of the manna in the Exodus and the true manna. Praise God for satisfying our hunger by giving us the true manna from heaven.

No Christmas Tree?

After sitting in my inbox for about 3 weeks, I finally watched a video that John Piper and his family had posted for Christmas. One thing that I noticed is that they did not have a Christmas tree in their house. Now, granted, maybe the tree is off camera. But I have wondered this for a while. Why do we put up a Christmas tree around Christmas? Serious question. Anyone know how the tradition began?

Also, here is the video that I am referring to.

How the Supremacy of Christ Creates Radical Christian Sacrifice

I really like to listen to sermons. Maybe I'm a sermon junkie. I opened up iTunes today and noticed that I have 513 sermons via podcast on my iPod... and that doesn't include a couple hundred others that are not counted as podcasts. Have I listened to all of them? No. Will I ever? Probably not. So why have all of them? My weary soul needs the Word of God preached to me all the time.

I do have my certain pastors/churches that I listen to consistent basis: John Piper, Matt Chandler, Mark Driscoll, Covenant Life Church, Paul Tripp, Mark Dever, Tim Keller, my old church from college (Clear River Church), and most importantly, my home church (Sovereign Grace Church). In addition, I'll even listen in on some seminary classes from Covenant Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary. All of them have been great resources to make my soul happy in God and to teach me doctrine.

However, once in a while, I will come across a sermon that I will listen to over and over and over again. For the past year, that sermon has been How the Supremacy of Christ Creates Radical Christian Sacrifice by John Piper. It is a fervent reminder to consider the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the fleeting pleasures of sin (Heb 11:24-26). It is a call to live with a radical, risk-taking, sacrificial, Christian flavor.

If you want to listen to it, you can either listen to the audio or video via the web, or you can download the audio to your PC. Here's a short excerpt. I hope it serves you as much as it has me this past year. I think I'll be listening to this on the way to work tomorrow.

"When he bids us leave the securities and comforts of life and take up a radical, risk-taking, sacrificial way of love in his service, it is not a path that we take alone. In fact, Jesus is there outside the camp in a way that he is nowhere else. He is not just telling us to go out there. He is inviting us come out here. Here is where I am. Come to me outside the camp.

The supremacy of Christ is not just his perfect fitness to bear our sins, and not just the supremely valuable future Reward that frees us from fear and greed and worldliness, but in his supremacy he is also now our present, personal Treasure.

And there he is outside the camp bidding us come. The sweetest fellowship with Jesus you will ever know is the fellowship of his sufferings.

So I say it one more time: My desire and prayer to God for you is that your life and ministry have a radical, risk-taking, sacrificial flavor.

Let us go to him outside the camp. For here we have no lasting city. But we seek a city which is to come, whose builder is God and whose light is the Lamb."

A Sweet & Bitter Providence

Crossway has just published John Piper's newest book entitled, Ruth: A Sweet & Bitter Providence. It's a compilation of sermons he did on the book of Ruth. Therefore, you can either listen to the sermon series, buy the book and read it, or download the free PDF from Desiring God. I've already listened to the sermon series, and it's fantastic. Here's a trailer of the book just to whet your appetite.

A Christmas Surprise for Wifey

I love surprising my wife. The look on her face and the way she looks into my eyes when her surprise is revealed is priceless. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Therefore, seizing the opportunity that Christmas gives, I decided to give it a go once more. I would give her the only gift she really wanted but never thought she would get.

However, this time, I couldn't do it alone. What she really wanted cost much more than I could afford. That's where the family stepped in. We pooled the money together, bought the gift, hid it for 30 days, and revealed it to her at Christmas...... and I got the unveiling on tape. Roll the footage.



Also, here's a post from my wife's blog on how much she loves it.

Merry Christmas, my sweet love!

Mark Dever's Office & T4G 2010

If there was such a thing as a magic genie, one of my three wishes would be a study like Pastor Mark Dever's. I think I drooled a little on the computer screen.

Also, this video is a plug for Together for the Gospel 2010. My dad and I are going to this amazing conference and I can't wait. Let me know if you are coming!


Mark Dever - Study Video from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

Bizkit the Sleep Walking Dog

I've never seen my wife laugh harder than when we watched this video.

Losing the Gospel by Trying to Improve It

Crossway recently posted an adaptation from Mark Dever's chapter in Proclaiming a Cross-Centered Theology.  It shows 5 ways that people have tried to supplement or add to the gospel.  However, in the end, all that happens is that they have lost the gospel.

Let's resolve to not add to the gospel in 2010.  It's not the Prosperity Gospel.  It's not the Social Gospel.  It's the Gospel.  That is sufficient in itself.

Christmas Giveaway Winner

Well, New Year's Eve has come and gone, and you know what that means.  It's time to name the winner of my Christmas Book Giveaway.  The lucky guy is Gabe Wilfong.  Gabe, I'll be sending the books in the mail ASAP. 

Thanks to everyone for entering.  Have a Happy New Year!