I’ve just started reading Francis Chan’s new book, Crazy Love - Overwhelmed by a Relentless God. In the opening chapter, which is entitled, “Stop Praying,” he challenges the reader to begin the book by gazing at God in silence. He also recommends the following:

What I want you to do right now is to go online and look at the “Awe Factor” video at crazylovebook.com to get a taste of the awe factor of our God. Seriously––go do it. Speechless? Amazed? Humbled? When I first saw those images, I had to worship. I didn’t want to speak to or share it with anyone. I just wanted to sit quietly and admire the Creator.

It reminded me of a thought-full piece written by C. S. Lewis in response to someone who asked the following question: “Materialists and some astronomers suggest the solar planetary and life as we know it was brought about by an accidental stellar collision. What is the Christian view of this theory?”

Here was Lewis’ response:

If the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision, then the appearance of organic life on this planet was also an accident, and the whole evolution of Man was an accident too. If so, then all our present thoughts are mere accidents – the accidental by-product of the movement of atoms. And this holds for the thoughts of the materialists and astronomers as well as for anyone else's. But if their thoughts – i.e., of Materialism and Astronomy – are merely accidental by-products, why should we believe them to be true? I see no reason for believing that one accident should be able to give me a correct account of all the other accidents.

C. S. Lewis, "Answers to Questions on Christianity," in God in the Dock, pages 52-53.

I received the following update this morning from Jerry and Pam Headen:

Dear Supporters and Friends of Philokalia Ministries:

We lead off this update with the report of a baptism on November 12. Laa, one of the HIV+ ladies, comes from a very poor family. Her husband is also HIV+ and an alcoholic.  She had been a regular attender of our Sunday worship for a number of months before we left for furlough in 2007, but her and her family moved away from Chiang Mai.  After our return this summer, Laa began attending again as she and her family had returned to Chiang Mai.  She expressed an interest in becoming a Christian, but felt she couldn’t because she could not read.  We had to devise a plan to teach her about the Christian life using no books, or helps that involved reading or writing.
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I just finished watching a really good movie that most people have probably never heard of: Saints and Soldiers. The film opens with the Malmedy Massacre (Dec. 17, 1944), where a German SS unit killed 86 American POWs. The film follows five soldiers who escape into the woods behind enemy lines with information that could save thousands of allied lives. One of the main characters, Cpl. Nathan “Deacon” Greer, is a sharpshooter and former missionary who always has a Bible in hand. I don’t want to give away the story-line, suffice to say that is definitely a movie that’s well worth seeing.

Despite winning 14 Best Picture Awards at film festivals, it lacked a major distributor and few have heard of it. One other interesting fact about the film is that it was filmed in less than a month, in northern Utah, for under one million. Many of the actors in the opening scene are re-enactors who traveled to Utah at their own expense. But don’t let that stop you from watching it. Michael Medved described the film as “a gritty independent film with more soul and substance and more thrilling combat scenes than big studio projects.”

Best of all, you can watch the movie online for free.

”He who loves not wine, woman and song is a fool his whole life long.”
Martin Luther

“Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”
I Timothy 4:4
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I haven’t slipped off the blogging grid, I just haven’t figured out how to get Wi-Fi in the woods.

I just enjoyed some fresh venison tenderloin hot off the grill. And by fresh, I mean that he was roaming the woods until yesterday morning. Here’s a pic for those who are interested. The kids and I really enjoy venison (they’ve grown up eating it), but it’s never really been Laurie’s cup of tea. I’ve grilled it, bar-b-qued it, slow cooked it as a roast, ground it into burger that we’ve used in chili and spaghetti sauce, but still – even though she’s a great sport and is willing to try everything, Laurie just doesn’t care for venison.

Well tonight I decided wrap the tenderloin in bacon, I mean how can you go wrong with bacon, right? After THOROUGHLY wrapping it with/in bacon, I sealed it up in aluminum foil and slow cooked it on the grill for about 25 minutes. I just knew that this would win her over. I was feeling pretty confident when she remarked how good it smelled right after I pulled it off the grill. I opened the foil and moved everything over to the cutting board. It was juicy, tender and cooked just right, not overdone.

I tried the first piece. . . “Oh, yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.” I proudly shared a piece with my beloved. She tried it, smiled, and said, “Great effort... I think I’ll have a sandwich.”

Cal Thomas wisely reflects on the failure of the Religious Right:

Social movements that relied mainly on political power to enforce a conservative moral code weren’t anywhere near as successful as those that focused on changing hearts. . .

If results are what conservative Evangelicals want, they already have a model. It is contained in the life and commands of Jesus of Nazareth. Suppose millions of conservative Evangelicals engaged in an old and proven type of radical behavior. Suppose they followed the admonition of Jesus to “love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison and care for widows and orphans,” not as ends, as so many liberals do by using government, but as a means of demonstrating God’s love for the whole person in order that people might seek Him?

Read the entire article here: Religious Right R.I.P.

I sat down with a cup of coffee with the intention of sharing my reflections about the election. But I ended up reading these three outstanding posts which summed up my feelings to a tee. In fact, they said everything I wanted to say, only better. So here are my thoughts:

America Has Chosen a President

My Thoughts on the Election

In God We Do Not Trust

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
– I Timothy 2:1-4