Celebratign 1 Year

This month marks the one year anniversary of our membership at Third Avenue Baptist Church. There is much to celebrate on this occassion.

Since coming to Third Avenue I have seen great growth in my family's spiritual life. Both myself and my wife have learned more and more that Biblical Spirituality means loving the members of your local church. I had, perhaps, known this prior to coming to Third. But it is was here that we saw it more clearly lived out, and it was here that we have more fully participated in it.

We joined Third Avenue expecting that it was a local church where we could contribute, which is true. But in return we have found more blessings that we could have originally imagined. We've gained significant friendships that will last a life time, Biblical training in the ministry, Christian education from the preached word, and we've seen the love of Christ clearly displayed as members pray for us, lead us, care for us, and correct us.

As we celebrate our first year at Third Avenue Baptist Church we are celebrating God's grace. Membership in the local church is hugely important and in giving it to us God has given us much to be thankful for. Chief among all those benefits of church membership is the continual fresh reminder that I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great savior.

YouTube and Presidential Campaigning

The Chicago Sun-Times has an interesting article on a recent YouTube video that attacks Hillary Clinton and seeks to benefit Barack Obama. The video is a well crafted take on the George Orwell 1984 "Big Brother". The team around Obama have confessed that they have had nothing to do with the video, and admitted they're not sure they could have done one as well.

What is most intriguing, however, about the article in the Sun-Times is the suggestion that this will not only be the political phenomena of the 2008, but that it is "a new chapter in presidential campaigning." What a world we live in! Even something like YouTube can have an influence on the election of our president. If that is perhaps a bit of an overstatement it is at least safe to say that the internet has quickly brought about the most significant new expression of that beloved American democracy.

Check out the article here: http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/304233,CST-NWS-sweet20.article

Buckeyes will Win

Those Ohio State Buckeyes are an exciting team to watch. It is to be expected that they will only get better with time. They are a young team, but what they lack in college experience they make up for in sheer skill. While today's game was close, their determination throughout and their ability to pick it up in overtime and pull out the win is evidence of the capability of this squad to bring home the trophy. So the Buckeyes are my pick for the NCAA champions!

Calvin's Turning 500

This July the hugely important Protestant Theologian John Calvin will be 500, and there's a conference in honor.

Few have had more of an impact on Christianity than has John Calvin. His 22 volume commentary set is a hall mark of Christian Protestant exegesis and his Institutes is one of the best expressions of protestant and particularly reformed theology. His impact permeates both Europe and America, theology and sociology, and even politics. There is much to thank the Lord for in the life and work of John Calvin.

For more information on the conference and life of John Calvin go to: http://www.calvin500.org/index.html

What to Make of "The Riches"

FX is certainly known for their orginal shows. They've produced a number of cutting edge dramas that have garnered them a great audience. Most of their "cutting edge" dramas contain almost no edifying value in my own opinion, and so I have avoided them. But their most recent addition has caught my attention.

"The Riches" is the story of a family of crooks. "Drifters" they are called in the first episode, but crooks is certainly what the audeince will recognize them as. The show has some evidences of redemption in its content. Wayne has a major wake up call, what C. Ambrose calls a "spiritual and midlife crisis." He decides to remove his family from a life of cons and thefts and settle down in middle-class suburbia. The way he does this is by seizing the identity of recently deceased Doug and his family.

The show is certainly mature and for adults only, and I am not sure what the overall quality will be like yet, having only seen episode one. I do not intend to recommend it here, simply to make you aware of it. "The Riches" could be a show about redemption and family. Or not. We will have to wait and see, but there is potential. And with Minnie Driver and Eddie Lizard behind the wheel we know the story will go far either way.

Excitement for Ohio Evangelicals

There's an exciting new development for Ohio Evangelicals. The forthcoming establishment of The Southern Ohio Theological Society is expectd later this year with their very own Theological Journal. Several individuals have already agreed to contribute to the first issue including Tri-State theology professor Dr. Manferd Langer. For those interested in being members of the society and recieving news about the journal I'll have more info in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Our Little Girl

For those of you who don't yet know, Krista and I found out two weeks ago that we are having a beautiful little girl. The sonagram was amazing as we saw the outline of her face and her tiny lips and nose. I am thoroughly excited to have a little daddy's girl and to help her grow into a godly woman. Continue praying for us, please, as the pregnancy progresses and as our little girl continues to develop and grow. Thank you to all who have expressed their congrats and even more so to those who have been and are praying for us.

Almost One of My Favorite Shows on TV

This is almost one of my favorite shows on TV:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWJJBwKhvp4

A Letter to My Daughter

We haven't met yet, but I've prayed for you.
I prayed for you before you were born,
I prayed for you to be born.

We haven't met yet, but I saw your face.
100 times in my dreams,
and more recently on the computer screen
as the doctors checked your health.

We haven't met yet, but You are loved.
Loved by grandmas and grandpas
Loved by Uncles and Aunts
Loved by Our church
and Deeply loved by Your Mom and Dad

We haven't met yet, but I pray for you.
I pray for God to love you, with His special saving love
And for you to love Him in turn, and serve Him.

We haven't met yet, but we will soon.