ask me a question

My daughter uses a pen name. I wonder where she got that brilliant idea. (You don't really think my parents named me "Craver," do you?) She submits writings to a web thingy called Teen Ink. Most recently, she wrote a song and of it she says,

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"I wrote this for my dad's birthday this year. I think one of the best gifts is a song, and I did my best on this one! I could always ask him my questions, and I don't always understand his answers, but he's always happy to answer. Love you Daddy!"

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I'll admit that I got choked up a little, when I read it. Would you please click on the link to see the lyrics? If you feel so inclined, please give it a generous review by clicking on the stars on top of her page.

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Sheila Zyra's Ask Me a Question

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My birthday is not until July. Maybe she'll have the music by then.

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By the way, that first pic was taken a couple years ago. Here is a more recent one:

sneaky church cam

This was a sneaky shot I took at church. I showed that man his picture, and he laughed about the "butt shot." That was good natured self-deprecation, but it was not why I took the shot. I was motivated to snap this pic because I saw something very different. I see a family that is so blessed, it moves me. I know this man personally, and that he takes his role as husband and father very seriously. He is not just a figurehead, but in a very practical way, he serves as the spiritual head of his family. He leads with wisdom and grace. I see how they love each other. The wife is a godly woman who serves unselfishly. That little girl sings at church with all her heart. I've taught their other kids in Sunday School, and these kids know their Bible. One can see that their parents instruct them at home.

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A lot of people have a warped picture of what a Christian looks like. Crusades, inquisitions, picketing funerals and whatnot. For me, a Christian looks like this.

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(f.y.i. -- I'll be running around and probably won't get much time on the computer for a few days. I hope to catch up with you in between errands.)

God's love

Today, I'd just like to offer my photo (stretched for effect) and some lyrics from The Love Of God by MercyMe

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Could we with ink the ocean fil

And were the skies of parchment made

Were every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade

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To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry

Nor could the scroll contain the whole

Though stretched from sky to sky

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If you've never heard the song, here is a link to a YouTube video. It is a three minutes and thirty-three seconds well spent.

"i" is for irresistible

For those kind souls who want to know how I am doing since my recent surgery: I'm doing okay and getting better. The gall bladder removal was quick and recovery was quite normal. But we are still trying to get my blood pressure under control. I get tired a lot and still have pains in my neck and frequent (mild) headaches. But as I said, I'm getting better; I can mow the lawn now without the fear of tearing things up inside.

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I heard this on the radio:

"We have a free will. If we were forced to love him (God), it wouldn't be love." --Chuck Colson

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First, let me say that I have a great respect and admiration for Chuck Colson. His efforts to help the incarcerated, and society-in-general are noble. Wisdom abounds in his public discourses concerning the matter of "world view." But politely and respectfully, I believe the above quote reveals a common theological error and is biblically unsubstantiated.

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When it comes to "free will," R.C. Sproul explains it well. I paraphrase: We are free to choose anything we want; the problem is that we are incapable of wanting God (on account of our natural/fallen state).

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Since the unredeemed are dead in their transgressions, the Holy Spirit must first quicken a person, and only then he or she is able to appreciate and respond to the irresistible grace of God. It is a mistake to call that "forcing his love" ...it is grace.

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The apostle Paul was on the Damascus road looking to persecute Christians when the Lord apparently "violated" his free will. That sounds silly, doesn't it? Don't worry; nobody will be dragged into heaven kicking and screaming.

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Imagine that a lifeboat approached a drowning person from the Titanic. We would not say that the rescuer is forcing life upon those he reaches out to. Those who were grabbed from the dark and icy deeps would be grateful for having been rescued.

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Neither would we imply anything evil of the rescuer on account of those who were not plucked from a watery grave. (That is double-predestination.)

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If we pressed the illustration to be more accurate, we'd say that the lifeboat pulled an already dead body from the water and resurrected the victim to life. Is that "forcing" life upon a dead person?