Happy Reformation Day!

Today, October 31st marks another anniversary of Martin Luther's 95 Theses.
I am thankful for men like Luther, who were willing to suffer ridicule, lose their job, and ever be persecuted for the sake of a clear Gospel.
Also today is Halloween, here is some information for making a wise, Biblical decision regarding how to celebrate it.
I will be celebrating in my own way. I am wearing a Space Ghost Tie to Seminary.

Trusting God Tuesday: God's Sovereingty over People

One of the hardest areas of trusting God is in the arena of people. When people give us a hard time, when we are persecuted, even when we are mistreated.
Bridges addresses this in chapter 4 of the book. He says that it is much easier to trust God in big events in our lives, but not with our struggles with people. This chapter is filled with examples from Scripture of our heroes of the faith and how they reacted when they had encountered trials.
Someone this morning mentioned that Trusting God is easier when it comes to catastrophic events, but when it comes to our lives, specially dealing with people we fold and begin to doubt.
Another great point that someone made this morning was to equate God's Sovereignty with God's Lordship; so to say that God is Sovereign, it's to say that God is Lord of all.
One more thing, after reading this chapter, I found that I tend to use the sovereignty of God as an excuse for my irresponsibility or my lack of trusting. I tend to use that as a cop-out, instead of taking comfort on the fact that our God Reigns and thus is sovereign.

How Listen to a Sermon

Not sure if you have seen this.

John Piper shares with us some keys on how to listen to a sermon.

Almost Famous; Not God!

I was reading a poll on the internet on Friday that was talking about who are the most famous people in the whole wide world.
The idea was to identify who was the most recognizable figure in the world; the most famous one. The answers ranged from world-leaders (Bush, Tony Blair, Fidel Castro); to Religious Figures (Dalai Lama, Pope John Paul II); to sports figures (Tiger Woods, David Beckham); to famous personalities (Tom Cruise, George Clooney, Homer Simpson).
But according to Psalm 76 God is known in Judah. He is known because of his works, he is known because of his justice, and his judgment.
Our God is famous; everyone pales in comparison to his deeds. So today, Monday, as you think of God, remember that he is famous; that is He is known throughout the world.

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Daylight's savings time? No, at least not for a week

Usually, I have my Wonderful MAC computer rule my life. It tells me what to do, since I have programmed the calendar to tell me what is going on in my life.
But it failed me. I downloaded a program to go with my iCal to remind me when Daylight's saving time starts and ends. So being the computer dependent person that I am I proceeded to make an annoncement at Bible study about making sure to set our clocks an hour back for this sunday. I was met by astonished looks as they proceeded to tell me that "fall back" was going to take place on November 4th; I could not believe that my MAC was wrong. When I got home I did some research and found out that our President had changed the date one week, so my Mac was not completely wrong, it was outdated.
Here is the website.
I still love my Mac and like it better than all other computers combined.

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The World Series

I remember when I first got into baseball that there were some teams that were lovable losers. The Cubs, not winning a World Series since 1906 were a team that was truly never going to win, but you liked them since you felt sorry for them.
The Red Sox were such team for me; part of me always pulled for them because they were the lovable losers, the curse of the Bambino, was haunting them. Their many mistakes in the post season, specially in the World Series; Bill Burkner and his disastrous mistake. Even a few years ago, the poor Red Sox were suffering for their being the lovable losers.
That all changed in 2004, when they won the World Series, their arrogance has truly sour me on the whole Red Sox experience. Also the fact that there seems to be more Sox fans here in Cali than anywhere in the States; What's up with that?
The moral of the story is: I liked the Red Sox when they were a novelty; now they are plain annoying.

peace,

gap

Quote of the Week

This week's quote is another Hymn.
This hymn deals with God's constant care for us even though we have no idea that he leads us all the way.


All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way.

(Fanny Crosby)

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Distrusting God Thursday

If you have been reading my blog at all, you know that I have been writing my thoughts about the book "Trusting God." Unfortunately, I have found out lately, that my first reaction, when something unexpected happens, is not to Trust God, rather to distrust God.
Distrusting God is quite a problem because it is the symptom of a total ignorance of the theology that I already know.
Verses such as,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
—Proverbs 3:5-6

The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
—Proverbs 29:25

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
—Philippians 1:6

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
—1 John 5:14-15

Sometimes, I need to remember these verses... This is where we need to find solace.

gap

BU-SY!

Sorry you all, I am busy taking midterms and writing papers.
I will be back soon....

Don't miss me!

gap

ps. here is something for you keep you busy in the meantime.

Nothing is Outside of God's Control

As you know there are a lot of our brothers and sisters in Christ that live in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Please pray that they will be reminded that God is still on the throne as they suffer loss and the fear of losing.

Praise God For He still Reigns!

Habakkuk's Response

For my Hebrew class I have been living, sleeping and eating this passage.
This passage deals with Habakkuk's response to God's judgment on his people.
May You and I have this response to trials.

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.

For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

(NIV)

The Obligatory Politics Post

Years ago, John MacArthur wrote a great book "Why Government Can't Save You" This book is a call to Christians to consider their citizenship.
In years past, I remember seeing this as a cop-out for people that did not vote. I believed, as many people do, that being involved in Politics was something that we all needed to do as followers of Christ. I even volunteered in two presidential elections because I believed that this was a way to help/encourage other Christians.
All of it changed after a conversation with a friend of mine with very different views. He challenged me to think about my citizenship. Even as I was talking to people overseas, I realized of my wasted opportunities and that the way to impact our culture is from the Gospel.
This summer I was challenged to read the gospels and to be serious in becoming a follower of Jesus' teachings. If we are Christians "little Christs," then we need to be those that love people, share the gospel to them, and are not entangled by the everyday things of this world.
The government can't save you, but Jesus CAN!

gap

ps. A HUGE DISCLAIMER-- PLEASE, PLEASE, Do not misunderstand. I have never said that we should NOT vote, I have never said that we should not be involved in one way or another. What I did say is NOT to be entangled by the world and its pursuits; this means not letting anything take your focus away from Christ Jesus.

Quote of the week: Jehovah reigns—He dwells in light

This quote of the week comes from our brother Isaac Watts.
Mr Watts was a prolific hymn writer. Though I have never sang or even heard this hymn, it has ministered to me.

Jehovah reigns—He dwells in light,
Girded with majesty and might:
The world, created by His hands,
Still on its first foundation stands.

But ere this spacious world was made,
Or had its first foundation laid,
Thy throne eternal ages stood,
Thyself the ever-living God.

Like floods, the angry nations rise,
And aim their rage against the skies;
Vain floods, that aim their rage so high!
At Thy rebuke the billows die.

For ever shall Thy throne endure;
Thy promise stands for ever sure;
And everlasting holiness
Becomes the dwellings of Thy grace.

Trusting God Tuesday

This morning the discussion on our book turned to praxis.
We had three urgent prayer requests that required us to come before the Throne with petitions. 1) A fellow student is going through the trial of having melanoma, what an amazing time of prayer with him. To see his total confidence in the Lord, yet his admission of weakness when confronted with this trial. 2) The unborn grandchild of one of our Elders/Shepherds. 3)The sister of one of our undershepherds and their struggle with their unborn son.
My first reaction was to think, "when it rains, it pours." What an unbiblical reaction! Our God has given us trials so that we would grow. Often I look at them as an obstacle between 'where I am' to 'where I want to go.'
Thinking Biblically will force us to think of them as they are: A TOOL from our Loving Father to Mold us.

James 1.2-4 (NIV)
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

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Hope for the Homely: Good Theology?

This is an amazing article. Laugh with me.

Patience is a Virtue: A Documentary

On friday I had the opportunity, as it is most fridays, to teach at our Bible study on the one anothers.
The turn was for "Being Patient with One Another." It was a different than all other messages, I decided to frame it as a documentary is framed/written/filmed. I started with the necesity and definition for patience and why do we need to be patience when dealings with others and finished with 4 (Four)reasons why it is critical that we exercise patience with one another.
1) Being Patient demonstrates your genuine faith
2) Being Patient demonstrates that you are walking in the Spirit (Fruit of the Spirit)
3) Being Patient demonstrates that you are like your Father (God is patient)
4) Being Patient demonstrates that you are in line with the Godly Heroes of the Bible. (Abraham, Job, Elijah, Jesus, Paul, etc).

gap

A Short Absence and Awesome Quote

For the three of you that read my blog, I wanted to let you know that I did not quit, but I had quite a busy week.
I am back, until I have more stuff due for school.
I would appreciate your prayers.

I do want to leave you with a great quote I saw the other day,

"By pursing excellence in art and music, and not using our craft merely as a means of preaching, teaching , evangelizing, or rebuking, we bring a smile to the face of God who created beauty and pleasure."

-- Michael S. Horton, "Where in the World is the Church"


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Trusting God Tuesday

Do you trust God?

This is the issue. One thing is knowing things about God, quite another is to truly know and trust God. Knowing God for who He is we know that he is ultimately Good. This means that God is not evil nor is evil found in him. Yet it seems like when we go through trials we tend to doubt God ultimate goodness.
This morning we talked about this. We discuss reminding ourselves of the theology we already know; we know that God is good and that there is no evil in Him. So why don't we put this into practice. Our guess is that we freeze up and forget.

So as I encounter trials, I need to remind myself that God is Good I need to trust Him.

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Today is Abuela's Birthday!

Today, October 9th, it is my Abuela Angela Miotti de Picatto's Birthday.
She is turning 89 years old.
My grandmother was born in Sanford, a small rural town of central Argentina to Italian immingrants. At the age of 11, her mother died, making her the mom of the family, since she was the oldest. By God's grace, through the example of her grandmother, she came into salvation soon after being left without a mom .

Now, she is a widow, that has 3 daughters, 13 grandchildren, 10 grandchildren-in-law, 18 great-grandchildren, and one Great-great-grandchild.

My abuela has been an example to me as a faithful mom and a amazing grandmother. But the thing that I love most about her is that when my brothers and I spent the weekend at her home, she would sit with us, when putting us to bed, to read a Psalm and pray for us. That spoke volumes to me, a hyper-active 5 or 6 year old, she was willing to spend the time with her grandkids so that they would be blessed from the Scriptures and her prayers.
I know that she still prays for us, even though all of us are married with our own kids.

So, this one is for you:

Feliz Cumpleaños Abuela!!!!


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Yankees LOSE!!!

I wanted to give props to the INDIANS for beating the woeful Yankees.

Here is something I hope Cael wears when he turns one.

Also, I wanted to give my good friend Josh Thiessen my condolences.

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Lessons from a Syntactical Analysis

Hebrew Exegesis has been a trial and a joy for me. Trial because, as you could imagine, I have a hard time reading, parsing, and making sense of the different Hebrew constructions and intricate grammar. But it also has been a great joy for me because I have seen the scriptures come alive in its original language.
For our Hebrew Exegesis class, one needs to pick a passage; in my case, Habakkuk 3:17-19 and live, sleep, eat, and commune with it. We have to write five papers, I am on paper number two, it deals with a syntactical analysis of the text: taking word for word, construction by construction to bring out the meaning of the text.
I was quite surprised on what I have found so far:
1) Hebrew is hard
2) There are way too many words/constructions that I don’t know
3) However, it is important to notice that God chose this language for a reason.
4) People throughout history had to learn Hebrew, including our Lord Jesus Christ, Paul, and many heroes of the faith.

It is easy for me to be perplexed by Greek and Hebrew, yet as I was reminded by one of our professors, even our heroes from the faith had to learn them and one must continue the struggle to be able to cut it straight.

God used this syntactical analysis to remind me that the original languages are worth learning and mastering. He also reminded me through this exercise that I am, but human. Lastly, God is a God of excellence and demands my best even in a paper. (Even writing this is convicting me).

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Maturity

I was forwarded this article.
It crystalizes what is going on on in our churches with our young men.

{thank you Spencer!}

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The One Another's

At our Bible Study we have been studying the one another's. When we were deciding what to go through this semester, we thought this topic could be quite useful to College students.
Selfishness is all around us, however it is amazing to think that we were created as a body. The church of Jesus Christ is a body, but at times Christians live as though they were limbs walking around by themselves.
Because we are a body we need to learn to how to relate to one another, how to take care of one another, and what to do and what not to do.
Here is a list of the one another's.

The One Anothers
Commanded to:
-Admonish (Ro 15:14; Col 3:16, w 2Th 3:15).
-Assemble together with (Heb 10:24)
-Bear burdens of (Gal 6:2)
-Comfort (1Th 4:18; 5:11, w 14)
-Confess faults to (Jas 5:16)
-Consider above self (Heb 10:24)
-Be courteous (1Pe 3:8)
-Edify (Ro 14:18; 1Th 5:11)
-Encourage (Heb 10:24)
-Equality with (Ro 12:16; 15:5,7; 1Co 11:33; 12:25; Php 2:3)
-Exhort daily (Heb 3:13)
-Have fellowship with (1Jhn 1:7)
-Forgive (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13)
-Do good to (1Th 5:15)
-Be hospitbable to (1Pe 4:9)
-Greeting (Ro 16:16; 1Co 16:20; 2Co 3:12; 1Pe 5:5)
-Be kind to (Eph 4:32)
-Love (Jn 13:34-35; 15:12,17; Ro 12:10; 13:8; 1Co 12:25; Gal 5:13; Eph 4:2,32; 1Th 3:12; 4:9;
1Pe 1:22; 2:17; 3:8; 1Jn 3:11,23; 4:7, 11-12; Jn 5)
-Minister to (1Pe 4:10)
-Be patient with (Eph. 4:2; Col 3:13)
-Be at peace with (Mk 9:50; 1Th 5:13)
-Pray for (Jas 5:16)
-Prefer (Ro 12:10; Php 2:3; 1Ti 5:21)
-Provoke to love and good works (Heb 10:24)
-Serve (Gal 5:13; 1Pe 4:10)
-Washing feet of (Jn 13:14)
-Be subject to (1Pe 5:5)
-Husband and wife, each to be subject to (Eph 5:21)
-Teach (Col 3:16)
-Wait for (1Co 11:33)
Not to:
-Deceive (1Co 7:5)
-Devour and consume (Gal 5:15)
-Do evil to (1Th 5:5)
-Envy (Gal 5:26)
-Grudge (Jas 5:9)
-Judge (Ro 14:13)
-Lie to (Lev 19:11; Col 3:9)
-Owe anything to (Ro 13:8)
-Provoke (Gal 5:26)
-Speak evil of (Jas 4:11)


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Quote of the Week

I found this amazing quote on one of the blogs I read daily, http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/ -- The Shepherds Scrapbook.


"Feeling sorry for yourself is one of the strongest, most addictive narcotics known to man. It feels so good to feel so bad. Self-pity arises so easily, seems so plausible, and proves so hard to shake off."

- David Powlison in the newest Journal of Biblical Counseling (Summer 2007, Vol. 25, No. 3) p. 7.

Specially? or Especially?

As an English language student one learns words that we are never explained their meaning. There are two sort of homonyms, especially and specially. (Though they are not really homonyms)
The issue is, when do we use these words?
Here is some help, I think that englishplus.com has the best answer:

Special is a common adjective. Specially is its adverb form. Special means "particular, distinguished in a distinct way, or designed for a particular purpose." Specially means "particularly, in a disintguishing manner, or for a particular purpose."


Especial is an uncommon adjective. Especially, its adverb form, is much more common. Especial means "exceptional, noteworthy, or particular." Especially means "exceptionally, in a noteworthy manner, or particularly."


In the sense of "particular" or "particularly," the words mean pretty much the same thing. Often they can be used synonymously. However, if you want to stress the exceptional or noteworthy quality, then especial or especially is a better choice. If you want to stress the distinctive purpose of something, then special or specially is the word you are looking for.

Example: This program has specially designed macros for word processors.
(A distinctive purpose)
Example: He did especially well in All-Star Game.
(A noteworthy performance) (www.englishplus.com)

Godspeed on your grammar usage,

gap

7 Years--- Anniversary

Today, October 2nd marks the anniversary of my first official date with my now wife Melissa.
So after 7 years all I can say is: I CANNOT BELIEVE I LANDED SUCH A CATCH!

I LOVE MY WIFE!

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Trusting God Tuesday

"WOW"

That is what I wrote next to chapter 2 'Trusting God."
The subject of chapter dealt with the issue of Trusting God pertaining to His providence. Bridges argued that it is quite easy for us to assert God's providence when something good happens, "I got a new Job." Yet when things that are not humanly beneficial to us happen we consider them an accident. Rick Holland made the point that an athlete was being interviewed about a recent game and he said, "by the grace of God, we were able to win the game." Rick made the point that if the same athlete had lost the game, it was also due to the grace of God.
I was quite convicted about this in my own life for I think this way a lot of the time. I tend to forget that our God works ALL THINGS, yet practically at times I live as a deist.
How encouraging it is to think that our God is intimately involved in our lives that even when things don't seem to go our way, He know and give us more grace.

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A Case of the Mondays?

Besides going to seminary, I work full-time for a living. I have been working for a lumber company for the last seven years. Usually I work on the road, but for the past 3 months I have been working in the office.
It is amazing to me that every Monday, when I first get into the office from about 6:30 AM until about 10 AM people respond when asked how things are going with a, “Well, it’s Monday, what do you expect.” Or some people would light up as they talk about their weekend, but be miserable when speaking of their week ahead.

I have been convicted by this. I have answered this way, and often. However, realizing that God is the one that created work for mankind and that, as a believer, I should be having a worshipful time even at work. I think that at times as believers, we look forward to our weekend and want to stay there because that is when we meet with God’s people. Yet fail to remember, in my case, that at work I have immense opportunities to proclaim God’s goodness and salvation to most of my co-workers that do not know him.

A way that I need to combat this in my own life is to realize what Psalm 90 says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Moses is writing a worship song about his experience with God and encourage the Israelites to maximize their time in light of the Wilderness wandering and the upcoming incursion into the promise land.
In our case, we should not have a case of the Mondays, yet we need to use Mondays as a worshipful day in that we remember God’s faithfulness in our provision.

gap