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"How can you know what the Spirit says today?" asked the pastor from Ravelunda. His voice was like cold steel.
"It becomes a matter of conscience."
"It means, then, that the conscience is the highest authority. No thank you! Then both you and I are lost. The conscience does indeed know quite a bit about the law, but it knows absolutely nothing about the promises of the gospel. Can the conscience tell you whether Jesus was crucified? Can it say whether He died for our sakes? Can it determine whether He rose again? Can it know that He is to return again to judge the world? These are the chief truths of the gospel, and no man would have the faintest idea of this, if we could not read it in the Word. Christianity must therefore cling to the Word to the end of the ages, or it must cease to be Christianity, since it would no longer have the gospel of Christ to proclaim."
Great part of the Star Wars Saga--Luke finds out who is father is and learns more about the power of the dark side of the force, great banter (and romance) between Han and Leia, more battle between good and evil, and great wisdom from Yoda as he is training Luke, "Try not. Do or do not. There is no try."
I knew Sarah's dad from when he was serving at the same church as me. And I always appreciated his dry sense of humor. When I got to know Sarah more, I realized she had her dad's dry sense of humor. I enjoy her humor a lot. Sarah is a complex person, and it is always interesting to see different sides to her. It is really cool to see that soft side of her when she talks about how much she loves her daughter. And now she has a son too!
I started watching Texas Hold'em tournaments on TV a few years ago, and then got into playing it with my friends Gene and Jean. It's so much more exciting than regular Poker! Waiting to see what all the community cards are, the rush of pushing All In! It's a fascinating game cause it's not just about playing the cards; it's about playing the players. It's reading people, bluffing sometimes. It's a lot of fun.
I loved the Star Wars movies from when I was a kid. In fact, at one sleepover when I was a kid, I was known as "the girl who likes Star Wars." This movie was pretty awesome for its time in terms of special effects, and the characters are interesting. One thing that really cracks me up now when I watch the movie is how whiny Luke Skywalker is, especially in the beginning of the movie. I enjoy watching this now from time to time because it really is an enjoyable movie and because it makes me think of my childhood.
"But first the conversion must be properly completed through repentance and faith. And that is something God must do, and not you. It is evident that he has gotten you a considerable distance on the way. But you lack faith. You lack the right faith in Jesus only. And that is why you are unable to show others the way to faith."Torvik would certainly have made objection if Britta had not said something like that just the other day. Instead, he simply asked, "What, then, shall I do about it?""Read the Bible, of course.""I read the Bible every day.""I believe that. But how do you read?""You mustn't be so critical, Olle, of everything a poor fellow does. I try to read devotionally and for edification, so that I take to heart that which I feel is meant for me.""Feel, feel! That is just what is wrong. Don't you believe the Bible is God's Word just as truly, no matter how you may feel? Don't you see, Brother, that this won't do? Here you are with your sore conscience and your awakening by the law, and you are as sensitive to every threat of the law as a sore tooth to ice water. But since the conscience is dead as clay toward all the gospel promises, you feel nothing when God's Word speaks about Jesus, who died for us sinners, and about the righteousness that comes from God and which one way believe in spite of every accusation of one's conscience. Because you make your feelings your barometer, you pass by the gospel and are held fast in the law. Look in your Bible and see if the passages you have especially marked are not just those that speak of what you shall do. But you have not given half the attention to that which tells what Christ has done through His atonement."Torvik gave inward assent to that. It was true, completely true. but he said nothing."We are in the midst of Lent, Brother," said the rector. "Read God's Word now as God's Word, without skipping anything. Underline heavily everything about what our Savior has done for us. And if you like, write 'For me' in the margin. You need this yourself, and it is your duty to preach it to your congregation, as well."
"Buttery rich, vanilla scented, holiday sugar cookies." Such a wonderful aroma! And even when I'm not baking, my house can smell like I've been baking!
Okay, it's weird to admit enjoying a show about a serial killer. But after my friend Cassie and someone else told me about this show last year, and I started watching it, I found it really intriguing. I mean, Dexter obviously has this really dark side, but he still manages to be likable. As the show progressed, events in his childhood came out that explains a little why he is the way he is. And though he says he doesn't have feelings, it's obvious at times he really does care about people. And Dexter is a serial killer with a code--he kills serial killers who have killed innocent people or criminals that have slipped through the cracks of the justice system. Not that that makes it okay, but it is interesting. And the fact that Dexter works for the Miami police department as a blood spatter analyst adds suspense--will the people he works with figure out who he really is? It's a very different kind of show.
Deep Dish Pizza. Chicago is known for it, but interestingly, I didn't fully appreciate deep dish pizza till I left the Chicago area and realized it was hard to get good deep dish pizza farther south. So now when I go up to the Chicago area, this is usually one of the things I want. I go to Beggar's Pizza a lot, but of course Giordano's is awesome too. All that cheesy goodness and sauce. Delicious! My friend Jeannie likes this too and we usually get pepperoni, mushroom, onion, and garlic deep dish pizza.
This is such a cute movie! I loved Lilo and Stitch, and this picks up where that movie left off. Stitch is funny; Lilo is cute. And this movie has Hamsterviel who is such a funny villain (I mentioned him in a Characters post). A great Disney flick.
To Us a Child Is Born 1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.It is so awesome to read prophecies in the Old Testament that point to Christ. Isaiah has a bunch of them. We would all remain in the darkness, under the oppression of sin, death, and the power of the devil, if it weren't for the Savior born for us. The Light shines in the darkness, and we rejoice! Prince of Peace is such an awesome name for Christ. It is only through Christ's death for us that we have true peace, a peace the world cannot give, a peace that transcends all understanding.
I am so glad people make movies like this! This is a beautiful portrayal of the birth of Christ, and what led up to it. I think the movie really captures the range of emotions of everyone involved, and what life was like for people in that day. And the scene with the birth of Jesus Christ--incredibly moving and helps the viewer to really ponder God in the flesh FOR US. Great movie!
Espresso with steamed creamy eggnog with a sprinkle of nutmeg. Around the holiday season, I love getting this drink at coffee places.
"How is it now, friends? If faith means to receive God's grace in our hearts, and if the child's heart is always open toward God, it surely follows that the child is able to believe. It can, then, certainly receive grace. If, however, faith resided in our heads, in our thinking and understanding, it would not be possible. When we therefore bring a little child, with its corrupted nature, to God in baptism, what can hinder God from being gracious to it, taking it up into the kingdom of God, and giving it forgiveness of sins? Look," he said as he held out his hands in the shape of a bowl. "This is your heart, a vessel full of corruption, being born of sinful nature and having evil desires at its bottom. When you were born into the world, the vessel was open toward God. You were not for that reason a child of God, for the vessel of your heart was not that of an angel, but a bit of corrupted human flesh. Then you were brought to baptism. God poured His Spirit as a stream of grace into this vessel. It was still sinful, and evil tendencies lay within it, but it was covered by forgiveness; over it lay a white cloth, the righteousness of Christ, the redemption of Christ. You were then a child of God, for Jesus' sake. Then you grew up. Perhaps you were guilty of intentional sins and lived in unbelief. It was as if your heart were covered over again." Here he lifted one hand and held it over the other as a lid. "Then things were really bad. But you know that God took hold of you again, and there was penitence and confession and faith." The covering hand was removed and the hands together again formed and open bowl. "This is your spiritual state today. The sinful nature still remains, and the struggle against sin and for sanctification of life continues...Yet, over us all shines the atonement, and all of us have exactly as great a portion in that which is the foundation and content of our salvation: Jesus only."And when you shall die some day," he continued, with hands still extended, "and your consciousness is clouded, you may lay your broken vessel down, with all the darkness that is still within it, before the throne of grace, and say, 'I know whom I have believed.' In the heart evil may still bubble forth and wrong desires rise up and, though your mind is no longer active, your lips may perhaps form wicked words. What does it matter? It is only the old nature that is falling to pieces and letting the black contents run out. The new nature already rests securely on the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Only."
It is so awesome to be able to sleep in. I love days when I don't have to set the alarm clock, and I can stay up late the night before if I want and sleep as long as I want. Saturday is typically a day (usually the only day) when I could sleep in, but it has been hard lately with everything going on to even have a Saturday to sleep in. But when I can...Ah, it's nice!
"How can you know what the Spirit says today?" asked the pastor from Ravelunda. His voice was like cold steel.
