The Forgotten Arm

How Billy Zane saved Thanksgiving and the World part One

2009-11-30T22:14:00.003-05:00

We are live at the White House where President Serock Mobomba is about to pardon his first turkey and Vice President Botoxface is going to do something to a Yam. Lets listen in as President Mobomba is about to speak. “These are important times in this country and for our world. This is a time for moving forward. So there will be no more giving thanks in this world! Giving thanks is for sissies!” Mobomba just, pulled out a knife and cut off the head of the turkey. Now he has taken the Yam and shoved it through Botoxface’s eye. I think he’s dead. President Mobomba has ripped off his shirt and yelled, “The world is mine I own you all. The trees and bushes are not plants at all but have reveals themselves to be and army of ninjas. Mobomba has raised an army of ninjas and has taken over the world. A world that is no longer allowed to give thanks. This worlds only hope is Billy Zane,if your out there. Please someone find Billy Zane! This is Else Miller reporting live from the White House, now I’m getting the H out of here.

Stake n' Shake

2009-11-10T10:49:00.005-05:00

A group of us went to stake n' shake after evening church. It has been way to long since I had been there. The last time I went it was Matt and Addrienne, Jason and Amanda, and Boy and Me. So that has been at least five years or more. Since the last time they have got rid of the Very Berry Cobler. That was not cool. But I forgive you Stake n' Shake. By the way Panera is a rip off. it is like $12 if you want the other have of your sandwich and soup.

The Avett Brothers

2009-11-02T17:24:00.010-05:00

I saw the Avett Brothers at the Ryman Theater, saturday. It was great. They are the best live show I've ever seen. This was my second time seeing them. If you haven't heard their music you need to check them out. Their music is so full of truth and love, but not in a sissy way. I got to talk to their dad at the show, that was cool. He was just a proud dad walking around talking to the fans and thanking them for coming. I don't know how to post a video so here are some addresses you can cut and past

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7csPeTVEcB4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke9SGhwwDvs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbu2fNvthgI

Friends, friends, and friends

2009-10-17T23:03:00.002-04:00

The thing that bothers me most about getting older and the changes that life brings, are the people or friends that were at one point a big part of your life that you loose touch with. There are the really close friends that you still know what is going on in there life. But there are also the friends that you were close to that you loose touch with as your lives change. This always saddens me, becasue there are parts of your life that wouldn't be the same if you haven't meet them. I always wonder if they have forgotten about me, or we just don't communicate anymore. By the way this isn't about anyone person, but about all the people who have been apart of my life and it kills me that I'm not good at keeping in touch with people. It's funny how some of the ones that you thouht you would keep in touch with you don't and some that you figured you wouldn't you still do, making them in some ways better friends then when you saw them all the time. I wish I didn't miss people so much. Facebook depressed me.

recent watched movies

2009-08-22T14:40:00.003-04:00

rewatched Gone baby Gone A+

rewatched Children of Men A

A Gun and a Pulpit B

Rachel Getting Married A

Let The Right One In A

Marrgo at the Wedding B-

God on Trial A

High Noon A

Pope Dreams A

Two Lovers C

Hidalgo B-

Rewatched Once Upon a Time in the West A-

Incendairy C

Been doing stuff

2009-08-08T22:37:00.004-04:00

Been a long time since I have realy posted on here. I'm back in school now. Working on an old testament class currently. Which I should be studying right now. Been to El Paso, and working at Ace Hardware still. Had been working sundays alot which took me away from things at church but I think I got my schedule worked out where I have sundays off again. I hated that, I got to go to church but then I would have to leave right after that. Some people are fine with that but it realy bothered me not being able to be involed in things at church and with people. That's realy all that has been going on. Haven't been home in awhile hope to make it to the college group reunion.

Go to my facebook site to see pictures from El Paso. I don't know why I can't post pictures on here anymore.

El Paso

2009-06-30T10:11:00.001-04:00

Just got back from El Paso. It was good, put a roof on a house and four days of VBS.

funny things at work

2009-02-20T20:43:00.003-05:00

lady asked for a 60x100 air filter
guy in girl jeans and coat
guy got sand paper so he could sand down his false teeth
dog peed on the floor

funny things a work

2009-02-20T20:43:00.000-05:00

school

2009-01-29T20:20:00.002-05:00

well I got in. to the bible institute of south africa that is. I'm doing their distance program so no I'm not going to south africa. I'm still waiting on my acceptance package so that's about all I know for now. so now I just have to pay for it and not flunk out.

in other news I pretty much just watch movies and work, so that's about it.

well

2008-11-30T18:45:00.001-05:00

I'm still alive. Hope everyone else is too

Guide Dog

2008-08-20T10:13:00.003-04:00

I think I want to get a seeing eye dog. That way I can have him do things for me, and Dave would have to allow him in the house.
I also am thinking about bringing hammer pants back. I think it's time.

Nothing Much

2008-08-17T15:54:00.003-04:00

So, Haven't really posted in awhile. Not much has been going on. I did go see The Whigs at Nightfall Friday. They are good. I'm pretty sure at one point I saw the lead guitarist singer man look down at his finger then stick it in his mouth followed by what looked like spitting out his finger nail. That's how hard they rock

In other news I am applying to the Bible Institute of South Africa. They have a distance program that I could get a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Theology.

Reynosa

2008-06-30T21:08:00.007-04:00

I spent last week in Reynosa, Mexico working with Mission Isaiah 55. We worked at two main construction sites, one clearing the land and pouring the pillars for the wall were Isaiah 55 will be moving there facility too. The other was building a house and ministry building for Kelly Green who ministers to prostitutes in BoysTown. We also ministered the gospel to kids at a alternative school through sport camps, ESL, and VBS. On Sunday we went to a local orphanage and on Friday we had a half day so some went back to play soccer and shared the gospel and we gave two rocking chairs to the baby section. All in all we were there because the joy and glory of the gospel.
I saw the gospel of truth spread to the people of Raynosa. I saw people of all ages living out there faith as they got dirty and sweaty on construction sites. I saw an old man how has to use a walking stick to get around come to know the gospel from observing the hard work on the work sites. I saw that same old man as his life was changed serve others as he bent down to tie the shoe of a boy how only had the use of one hand from and injury the day before. I also saw the power and providence of God at work with in the events of that injury.
I learned about what it means to die to yourself and pick up your cross and follow Christ. I learned about the importance of spiritual gifts, and I learned a little more about the Righteousness of God.

I'll post pictures as soon as it quits being stupid

Forgotten

2008-05-27T22:49:00.004-04:00

I can't believe I have forgotten about this for the last three years. itunes radio. For some reason I was reminded of it's existence today and have found to great stations, Radioio Grunge and Paste Radio.
Speaking of three years. I have now lived in Chattanooga that long.

Desert Island List

2008-05-10T13:33:00.004-04:00

Bring it all Back Home - Bob Dylan

12 Memories - Travis

In Between Dreams - Jack Johnson

These a Three albums I never get tired of listening to.
What are your Three

I watched Juno last night. Great movie.

My Top Ten Most Played songs on iTunes

2008-04-26T08:47:00.012-04:00

click to see video of each song

Waltz #2 (xo) /Elliott Smith 57x's

White Daisy Passing /Rocky Votolato 46x's

The Dress Looks Nice on You /Sufjan Stevens 46x's

Rodeo Clowns /G-Love and Jack Johnson 44x's

Re-Offender /Travis 42x's

Rose Parade /Elliott Smith 41x's

Tangerine /Led Zeppelin 39x's

Girl From the North Country /Bob Dylan 38x's

The River /Bruce Springsteen 37x's

Love Will Come Through /Travis 37x'

2008-04-24T12:35:00.003-04:00

my brother and his wife and baby came down last week. here are some pictures we also had a cookout on sunday.

5 Movies

2008-04-23T08:40:00.005-04:00

I watch a lot of movies here are just four movies that I have watch recently that I liked

Gone Baby Gone: This is a movie I think about doing what is right in spite of the consequences. Doing the right thing doesn't mean it's going to be easy. Casey Affleck is good in it along with all the other actors. They use a lot of the locals as extras so it looks authentic. Ben Affleck does a good job directing it. I'm pretty convinced from watching it that lower class people in Boston are weird looking.

We Own The Night: Set in the late 80's, it's a cop vs. drug dealers movie that is more from the perspective of this family that are cops and a brother that is in with the nightclub owner drug dealers then it is a good cop, bad cop thing. Good acting, good story. Starts Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin phoenix, Robert Duvall, Eva Mendes.

Metropolitan: Good movie from the 1990 about a subculture group of rich kids that hangout and go to formals while home on Christmas break. While two realize the new friendships are just a here and now thing and there group starts to break up.

There Will Be Blood: I thought it was decent. Couldn't figure out if the score for the movie was brilliant or annoying. Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the greatest actors, but I thought the story was lacking and didn't seem to have much development. Not great but worth watching.

_____________: What have you watched latley?

Stuff

2008-04-14T18:46:00.002-04:00

I think I'm getting The Jimmy Legs. Today at work I buffed the floors all day. I'm now 26, that's a lot closer to 30. I'm going to eat biscuits and gravy and eggs for dinner. It seems like there was somthing else I needed to tell you all but I don't remember.

D-Day

2008-04-06T20:48:00.002-04:00

I meet a guy this week at the hardware store that was there on D-Day. I don't remember exactly what he said now but I'm pretty sure he said he was one of two to make it off the boat, and one of like 32 or 34 to make it past the barricades, or past something like that I don't remember now. But either way that's pretty crazy.

parents visit

2008-03-30T22:49:00.002-04:00

My parnets were in town for the weekend. It was fun. I had to work a lot so we didn't do much but eatout. But on Saturday we were real slow at work so they let me go a few hours early so I took them out to see the battle feild then we went to the circus. I've never been to a real circus it was pretty cool. I didn't bring my camera so no pictures.

3/27/06

2008-03-27T12:35:00.002-04:00

I dropped my bible today and out fell a card with prayer requests on it from exactly two years ago from a small group I was in that got together every Monday. I loved those people, that's what made the decision to changed churches difficult. It was sad looking at the prayer request because so much has changed in those Two years. Two out of Five or Six of those families are now divorced. I don't get it. The divorce rate in the church is getting bad. The only thing I can think of is this has to be one of Satans ways of trying to distroy the church.

weak hands

2008-03-26T12:02:00.005-04:00

I'm pretty sure I have week hands. Which is embarrassing because when I have to open a jar for the lady folk I can't do it.
In other news I have been working in the yard a lot. I'm glade I don't live in an apartment. I'm trying to decided if I want to plant a garden this year. We don't have an outside water faucet so this could be difficult. It's already a chalange to water my flowers with a watering can, I'm not sure if the grass I reseeded is getting enough water.

this kind of stuff only happens to me

2008-03-17T21:21:00.002-04:00

So it all started when I was messing around on the Internet and came across a job doing apartment maintenance on career builder and sent in a resume. Didn't think anything would come of it, then I got a call for an interview on Saturday. So I set up a time for an interview today at 2:00. So I go into the interview and it is this totally different company wanting a manager for selling insurance. So I went through the whole interview not real sure what the guy is talking about thinking should I tell him I'm not interested. But I just went along with it the whole time. At one point he asked me what I thought my strength would be that I would bring to the company. I thought I was going in for a maintenance interview so I couldn't really tell him I was good as carpentry work, landscape, janitorial work, and was really good at re screening window and replacing broken glass. So I just sat there for a few seconds till I just said I thought I was good a working with people. Sure enough they haven't called me back.
About the only good thing going on right now I've been reading Tresure Island. It's a pretty good book.

No School for You

2008-03-14T22:39:00.002-04:00

Well if you didn't know I've spent the last two months hoping I was going to be starting back to school to get my bachelors degree in a few weeks, so then I could go onto seminary. Well those were my plans. Those ones didn't work. I didn't have enough transferable credits to get into this program. So now I guess if I really want to go to seminary I am going to have to do alot more school and it's going to take alot longer. It's one of those things that I don't know if God has shut a door, or I just need to go about it differently.

one short and one missing

2008-03-07T21:36:00.002-05:00

I'm pretty sure that my right leg is shorter then my left, because I always walk on my right pant leg but not my left.
I saw this dog the other day that was a tripod. He was cool, he went over to pee on this post and didn't even have to hike is leg.
Does anyone read this?

Foster Falls

2008-03-03T21:35:00.005-05:00

Mark is in town visiting untill Thursday so we went hiking out at Foster Falls. It was a pretty cool place to hike. Last night we watched Be Kind Rewind. It was funny and good. You should see it if you have not. We also watched The Assassination of Jesse James... it was pretty good, long and slow but good.

Remembering the Past (BMX)

2008-02-27T01:50:00.003-05:00

Tonight I googled some old bmx riders that I used to really like, to see what they were up to and catch up some on the sport. Going back and looking at things from the past always brings up a number of emotions. It makes you realize just how much time has really gone by. It always makes me feel sad, happy, and lonely all at the same time. It makes you think about all the fun times you had and the people you had them with that have been left behind as you have moved on in live. Going back and looking at BMX stuff reminded me of back in high school riding on campus with Dan, then in college with Dennis and hanging out at the Dill St. house. I wounder what I will think of in the future when I look back at things that remind me of this part of my life. I hope they are good memories.

Be Strong in the Lord

2008-02-24T20:09:00.010-05:00

Be Strong in the Lord
Eph. 6:10-13
Lesson 1

I. Intro
A. Spiritual Warfare.
Last week I hope you saw the importance of viewing things through a biblical mindset. To be able to distinguish what is truth and what is false doctrine, and the importance of being able to defend your faith.
As Christians we will be faced with much conflict some direct and in your face as Zack demonstrated last week. But others will be subtle and disguised by twisting it with thee truth. Some conflicts will be personal temptations to sin. This is because as Christians we face constant warfare. It is a war that is not of this visible realm. The conflict lies in the spiritual reality of our existence. It’s a conflict that we wrestle with greater then ourselves. The fight is one that we often face when we are not in public and surrounded by other believers but in private.
B. Importance.
It is significant that we study this because. A. It calls us to action. Paul here is calling us to put on the new man that we are in Christ. To put on the armor is to put to action who we are as Christians. We often know the terms of our faith but does it take hold of us. B. It also makes us aware of the schemes of the Devil and the reality of what we face as Christians.We will look at this today in three points. 1. The intelligent works of the Devil.
2. The strength of the believer.3. The armor

II. The Intelligent Work of the Devil.
We see that the one that we fight against is the Devil and his allies. Though there are different forces at work they are all under the power of the Evil One and united under one front, to try to stop the advancement of the works of the Lord and to destroy the faith of the believer. I want to look at two major ways that the Devil works.
A. The Devil is a Deceiver
We see this in the garden with Adam and Eve. Satan takes the truth and twists it. In doing so we see that he deceives us into thinking that we can sin without consequence. Look at Gen. 3. Our sin has consequences not just to ourselves but to others. Every temptation that comes our- way is not harmless.
B. Satan is an Accuser
In accusing us he does so by guilt edged securities. He accuses us of sins that have been forgiven, sins that we have confessed before that Lord. He draws up the memories of are sinfulness. He trades upon are guilt. That we then find ourselves saying can I be a Christian? How can I love that Lord with this sin in my past? Let’s look at Zac. 3 we Joshua standing before the Lord and stand is there accusing him. But what does the Lord do. He strips him of his cloths and cloths him in righteousness, in salvation. We can say to Satan ah Satan you miss the point it is not my righteousness that I trust in for my salvation. The righteousness and salvation that I have is not my own but it is rooted in Christ and His righteousness alone. Rev. 12 We see Satan described here as both deceiver and an accuser. He has been defeated by the blood which brings us to our second point.

III. The Strength of the Believer
A. Victory in Christ
This passage encourages the believer to be strong, and to stand firm in the faith. We can stand firm because Christ has already triumphed over theses powers. So believers may not live in fear of them. The enemy has been defeated by the atoning blood of Christ, and the power of His resurrection. 1:19-20 this might that Paul prays raised Christ from the dead is the same might that we are now told to be strengthened in. We can be strong in this fight because we are strengthened in the mighty power that raised Christ from the dead. We can stand strong because our power does not come from ourselves, but it comes from the Lord.
B. Remember Who You Are
We have been brought into union with the Lord Jesus. We need to remember who we are in Him. How we have been called out of darkness, adopted by Him as sons and draughts, and seated with Him in the heavenly realms. This is the central promise of salvation from beginning to the end. That we would be set free from the bondage of the devil and brought into union with Christ. When faced with temptation remind yourself of who you are Sons and daughters of the king and all that that entails.Christ then is the sphere in whom we now live and from whom we derive our strength. We are now under Christ’s loving rule and headship and he provided all that we need in this battle. Look at 1 Sam. 17. Let us say as David when Satan comes to us and says do you think I am a dog. May we reply as David, “I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts.” That makes all the difference.

IV. The Armor
A. The tried armor of God
This armor that we are to put on is not our armor but it is the who’s, Gods armor. Isaiah 59: We see God putting on this armor as He goes to vindicate his people. This is a well tried armor. It has been tried in the wilderness temptations. It was tired in conflicts with Scribes and Pharisees. It was tried in the gardened where Christ prayed to have the cup removed and sweet blood in agony. It was also tried at Calvary and approved for victory.
B. Put on the Armor
This is the armor that the Lord has given to us. God provided us with this weapon against the enemy. To put on the armor of God is to put on God Himself, or at least his Characteristics. Truth, righteousness, salvation, these are things of God and things we obtain and His Children. This concept of putting on the armor is closely linked with being imitators of God Eph. 5:4. His gives us this armor that we might stand firm against the temptations and schemes of the Devil. In doing so that we might have confidence in the warfare that we face.

V. Conclusion (application)
How then do we do this? How do we put on the full armor of God? I think two major ways that we put on the full armor of God is by practicing the means of grace. By being in the word. It is through the word that we know God and by knowing Him we can glorify Him. By prayer for ourselves and for all saints. These are the private means of worship in doing these things we put ourselves in the presence of God. When we are in the word and meet with God in prayer the other pieces of the armor follow close after. When our mind is focused on Christ it becomes easier to practice righteousness, to know the truth, to be able ready in the gospel, and to stand firm in our faith. And when we put on the full armor we can stand strong, we can hold fast against temptation. We are a people that can perceiver because when our faith is attacked we know that it is Christ who is the author and protector of our faith. He has won the victory over Satan. His head has been crushed, and we can stand firm because the gates of hell will not prevailed against us.

day sleeper

2008-02-24T19:35:00.008-05:00

I've been so tierd come Sundays lateley. I come home from church eat lunch stay awake long enough to talk to family then passout for three hours. Then you wake up and it's still the same day. This is so weird to me. At night you wake up and you expect to start a new day. When I take a nap you wake up and then it takes a few minutes to really figure out what time it is and what to do with all the time that has been wasted. Ihave this love hate relationship with naps. I love them becasue I need them and usually don't even realize that I have taken one untill after the fact, but then I wake up and the rest of the day is so weird.
In other news Berkley had a friend for a few weeks. This is Ebony.

Her parents went to India for two or three weeks so she came and lived with us. She was a loud one. She wasn't used to being outside and would bark at everything.

I went hiking again the other week here are a few pictures of that.

I don't know why these pitures wouldn't seperate

How the South was Lost

2008-02-08T22:18:00.000-05:00

One cool thing about living in Chattanooga is all the history. Mostly Civil War history. And being from the North that is history that is in my favor. Today I went hiking up at Craven's House this was a house that was occupied by Confederat troops until the Union army took the mountain. The house was burnt down but after the war Craven returned and rebuilt this house.

The taking of Lookout Mountain and sourounding areas was a pretty significant point in the was. You can hike pretty much the whole mountain from here. I hiked the the Rife Pits were Confederates were located. It was pretty cool hiking these trails thinking of the soldiers that had been there.

There was this other old house by the Cravens house that had this celler type thing built in by this rock that was pretty cool.

Sinners Reconiled to God

2008-01-21T08:02:00.000-05:00

Sinners Reconciled to God
Colossians 1: 21-23

I. Introduction
If you Google reconciliation you will find it is a word used in many articles dealing with conflict resolution, in situations where people are trying to restore peace in the midst of war or the time after war, and with racial issues. It is a word that is used in situations where there has been a relationship severed or there needs to be a situation resolved, were peace is trying to be restored and relationships mended. This is what we are faced with here in verses 21-23. But it is not a problem of war, or hatred between different races, or even peace that is much needed in Kenya now. It is the conflict between God and Man, sin and the need for holiness.

II. The Problem of Sin (vs21)
Paul starts off by describing man post fall. This is who we are apart from a relationship with Christ. This is the nature of man. This is who we are because of sin. We are aliens, are thoughts and are actions are evil. We are aliens because of our sin are relationship with the Lord has been cut off. We are now foreigners to God, not only belonging to another, but we live in a land where we are enemies. Sin severs us from the fellowship with God and forces us to live without him in this world. This is what Paul is describing when says we are alienated. When Adam and Eve sinned they were driven out of the garden and Cane from Eden. In our sin we are driven out of the garden into left to wonder in the wilderness cut off from the presents of the Lord.We are hostile in mind. Eph. 2:1-3 describes this in stating that we are children of wrath following after the desires of the flesh and of the mind. And Titus 1:15 that we are not pure, being defiled in mind and conscience. Are thoughts are evil they are thoughts that are not focused on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. As we are told to think about in Phil. 4:8.We are also of evil deeds. Apart from Christ we are not people of good works, but all that we do we do is to our own praise and honor. Following after the desires of the flesh seeking our own gain. In this state there is only death. We live to only see that wrath that is to come. But for those who are Christ this is who we once were. Which brings us to the second part of this passage and to out second point.

III. Reconciliation (vs22)
In the state of man that we just looked there is great need for conflict resolution. There is great need for peace and restoration. We find this reconciliation in Christ. We saw last week that Christ containing all the fullness of God reconciles us by his blood. Paul now describes are reconciliation being in his body of flesh by his death. He is emphasizing that God became incarnate. It was man who screwed things up it needed to be a man to fix it. And it needed to be one greater than sin and one who knew so sin. SO Christ fully God and fully man by his shed blood, in this death takes away our sin. In 2Cor. 2:15 we see that he who knew no sin was made sin for us. Eph 2:15 the enmity between God and man has been abolished because while we were still sinners Christ shed his blood for us. So that he came present us holy, blameless, and above reproach. Let me ask you something. How have you sinned this week? How have you failed to love your neighbor as yourself? How have you failed to love the Lord as you ought? Who have you gossiped against, or gotten angry at. Maybe you have not honored your parents, or looked at things on the internet you have no business looking at. In spit of our sin, in which we need to repent off, look at how Christ presents us before the Father. As those who are holy. As set apart to the Lord. We are no longer aliens but we now belong to the Lord. We are his set apart to do his will.He presents us as blameless, as if we have never sinned. Are thought are no longer evil we are no longer hostile in mind going after the desires of this world.Last Christ presents us before the Father as being above reproach. He sees us as of good character, we have a good reputation. We are no longer of evil deeds but those off good works who can not be accused of evil.
We are seen in this light and presented to the Father this way because this is who Christ is. And those who repent and believe in Christ share in his righteousness. I love the line in the Bill Mallonee song Driving the Nails, Bill sings, “Driving the nails firmly in the tree but you have been talking to the Father on behalf of me.” Christ stands before the father on our behalf and presents us holy, blameless and above reproach.

IV. Conclusion; A Life of Faith and Hope.
Paul is not telling us that reconciliation is gained by faith and hope but that faith and hope are the mark of those who have been redeemed. Saving faith is preserving and enduring faith and is rooted, and anchored in hope. Found no where else but in Christ.Paul then urges us to remain firmly on the foundation of faith. Reminding us that the Christian is to persevere in the hope of the gospel taking hope in that which has been promised. Striving to live now holy, blameless and above approach, and one day will be in his percents holy, blameless, and above approach. Free of every charge against us. As Noah was safe from the wrath that lay outside the ark. We being reconciled by the blood of Christ in his death we will be safe from the wrath of God. It is those in Christ who will finally preserve.

southernized

2008-01-18T10:25:00.000-05:00

You know you have been in the south for awhile when you start to say things like pap instead of pipe and also when you buy a pair of these

visitation

2008-01-12T18:40:00.000-05:00

April came through town for a quick visit, so people got together and had a good time.

War

2008-01-05T09:43:00.000-05:00

As of late I have been thinking a lot about the how we are at war. A war that we face daily, not against our enemies of the flesh but against the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil. This battle is one that we face most when we are alone. Anyone who has lived the Christian life has experienced spiritual warfare. If you are anything like me you know just how easy it is to lose our focus and to see the life of flesh creep back in. But in Eph. 6:10-20 Paul tell us of how we can fight and be victorious over the battle.
It is important that we know who it is that this battle is fought against. Satan is a deceiver for the name devil means one who distorts the truth. He tries to come convince us that we will not reap the consequences of sin. As we see in the case of the fall with Adam and Eve. He is also an accuser. He feeds us lies that we are still guilty of our sin when we have repented and been washed clean by the blood of Christ. He feeds us lies of guilt that cause us to think that we can not approach the Lord in prayer, and reading of his word because of our sin. We think we need to let some time to go by to create a buffer. Satan is both a distorter of the truth and an accuser of false guilt.
As believers we need to trust in the righteousness that we have obtained in Christ who is our strength. Remember who we are in him, that we are adopted and made coheirs with Christ. In Christ we have been freed from the bondage of sin and from Satan. For this is what the scriptures speak of from the very beginning of how Christ has crushed his head. So we can say as David did when facing the giant that it is not our strength that we come in, "but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts." By putting on the full armor we may stand in his strength and might against the schemes of the devil.
We can do this because as we read it is not our armor that we are putting on to fight this battle. But it is the Armor Of God. This is an armor that is well tried. For it has been tested by Christ in the desert, in the garden, and on the cross. We must put on every single peace of this armor, for it was been tested and approved at Calvary.
This is a battle that as Christians we are engaged in. It is a battle that we have to fight, but it is a battle that we don't have to win. The battle has been won. With the shed blood of Christ and with his Resurrection from the dead we are freed from the dominion of darkness and have been seated in the heavenly realms. Satan was bound by the work of Calvary and will be given the final blow at the second coming of Christ. So we may fight the good fight and be confident that the gates of hell will not prevail against us.

For the King,
Mark

2008

2008-01-01T11:46:00.000-05:00

I'm declaring this year the Year of Mark. I'm not sure what that intails but I hope it's good. Here are some pictures of me and Berk bringing in the New Year.

Christmas

2007-12-31T20:03:00.000-05:00

Christmas was good. Matt, Addrienne, and Else came on Christmas eve. It was nice to all be together Christmas morning. My car broke down when I went to come home. So I had to come back in one of my parents cars. Berkley seemed to enjoy herself even though she had to be outside or in the garage while everyone was around. My moms side of the family came over on Christmas day, and some of my dads on Christmas eve. A lot of the old gang got together on Sunday night. It was good to see everyone. I think only one of us still lives in Muncie so I'm glad we all still see each other during the holidays. Here is some pictures of Else.