PJ's Spiritual Meanderings

A La Carte

Again ... some lighter and some not so light fare for your consideration.

1. You want to see a happy penguin? Check this little guy out!

2. Is all the technology we are using hindering our ability to talk face-to-face with one another? Here's an article from USA Today that offers some insight (2010: The year technology replaced talking).

3. Sudan just had a vote concerning the forming of the primarily Christian southern Sudan (the larger northern section is muslim) into a new country. African Inland Mission is asking for prayer for Sudan. Click here for more info.

4. Often in our attempt to read more of the Bible we actually take away less. Here is a Bible reading plan that encourages less reading but more meditation. Check it out here.

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

C. S. Lewis on What Really Matters!

Consider the following insight of C.S. Lewis:

"Christianity asserts that every individual human being is going to live for ever, and this must be either true or false. Now there are a good many things which would not be worth bothering about if I were going to live only seventy years, but which I had better bother about very seriously if I am going to live for ever."

Right on, C.S.!

Thanks for stopping by . . .

PS - I just posted on the DEEPER blog an audio podcast of Sunday's message.

Resolutions for 2011

Once I got back to feeling myself this week, I took some time to draw a list of resolutions for this new year. After much thought, prayer and re-edits ... here are my seven. I offer them up to you for a couple of reasons. First, to encourage some of you to do the same. Far too often we tend to drift through life with little direction. Living like that will never lead to greater godliness and obedience. Second, I want to go on record for the purpose of accountability. I post this list with some fear and trepidation, knowing that a lot of people "out there" will be "in the know" concerning my personal resolutions for 2011 (and please, feel free to ask me about them!). So here is my list ...

1. I resolve to get to know the Word of God better to better know the God of the Word.
2. I resolve to be more intentional in loving my wife as Christ loves His Church.
3. I resolve to pray more.
4. I resolve to be a better shepherd of my family, especially in regard to the faith journeys of my children and grandchildren.
5. I resolve to improve the care of my body, knowing that it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
6. I resolve to be more intentional in sharing my faith.
7. I resolve to strive to keep the above resolutions - all by God's grace and for His glory.

Now it is my plan in the next week or so to work out some specific goals that will help me to keep these resolutions. For today, here are a couple of goals that I have set in place for resolution #1:

1. I plan to spend time each day in an in depth devotional study of the Book of Romans. To assist me in this, I will use James M. Boice's four volume commentary on Romans (I had the incredible privilege to sit under Dr. Boice's teaching for two years when I attended his Center City Philadelphia church while a college student. He was quite the Bible teacher!).
2. I also plan to journal on what I "pull out" of these daily times of study.
3. Finally, I plan to memorize a verse or passage of Scripture each week.

So there you have it. I covet your prayers for me. I know how easy it is for me to get distracted from the truly important by the tyranny of the urgent.

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

A La Carte

Some a la carte items for your enjoyment and inspiration . . .

1. A recent NY Times column on abortion that is surprisingly good. The writer concludes with these lines, "This is the paradox of America’s unborn. No life is so desperately sought after, so hungrily desired, so carefully nurtured. And yet no life is so legally unprotected, and so frequently destroyed." Well said! For the rest of the column, click here (note: you will have to register for the site - it is free but will take you a minute or two).

2. A truly refreshing story about heroism and humility in the life of a recent recipient of the Medal of Honor. This is a good read!

3. You talk about a guy with voice for radio ... check out the voice of this homeless man in Columbus, Ohio. As a result of this publicity, this man has been offered an announcing job with the Cleveland Cavs (NBA basketball team) and NFL Films is looking into offering him an audition. He was also a guest on this morning's NBC Today show (Here is a video of the interview .... interesting the number of biblical quotes and allusions this man, Ted Williams, makes during the interview).

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

Whatever Happened to Self-Control?

The #1 New Year's resolution year after year after year is ..... TO LOSE WEIGHT! I am guessing one reason for this is that according to HealthGuidance.org, the average person puts on from 7-12 pounds during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays. Given that stat, it comes as no surprise people are determined to shed some pounds come the new year!

However, since most of us have a sweet tooth (or probably better said, some sweet TEETH!), losing weight is not an easy task. But never fear, ThinkGeek.com is here! Below is ThinkGeek's video on a new product that you can order and enjoy. It promises for all of us chocolate lovers the enjoyment of chocolate without the calories! Hmm ... What is coming down the pike next? But we can expect more of the same! Self-control is something Americans are not noted for ... and that includes those of us who claim to follow Jesus. Yet, self control is mentioned by Paul as one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and something that the apostle practiced in his life (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) and urges us to also exercise in our own lives (1 Timothy 4:12). So why not make a New Year's resolution that you will strive to be more self-controlled in 2011, more disciplined ... all with the help of God's Spirit, of course!

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

A Big Day for a Family Member

Today is a big day for my daughter Kate's husband. Ryan will be sworn in at the state Capitol in Harrisburg as the new state representative for Pennsylvania's 41st legislative district. My wife and I, along with our other two children and their spouses will be in attendance.

Please keep Ryan (and all of our public officials) in your prayers, which is something Scripture commands us to do (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Ask our sovereign God to turn the hearts of these men and women toward him.

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj

A Blessed New Year to You and Yours!

Jonathan Edwards is arguably the greatest theologian that America has ever produced and also one of this country's greatest intellectuals of all time. Among many other things, Edwards is known for the resolutions he made that guided his life. Consider these two:

Resolution One: I will live for God.
Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.

Now there are two resolutions worthy to live by, don't you think?

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj