"If we are forced to choose between being rationally correct but emotionally uncomfortable, and irrationally incorrect but emotionally comfortable, we frequently choose to be irrational." - Raymond Ruble, Critical Thinking, 48.
The Arrest of Polycarp
Here is an amazing account of what happened when Polycarp was arrested before his martyrdom. This is from Eusebius' Church History.
"Soon the pursuers arrived and arrested two of the servants there, one of whom, under torture, showed them to Polycarp's quarters. It was night, and they found him lying in an upper bedroom. He could have moved to another house, but he had refused, saying, 'God's will be done.' When he heard that they had come, he went down and talked with them in such a cheerful, serene manner that they were astounded in view of his old age and confident air and wondered why there was such anxiety to arrest an old man of such character. He ordered that a table be set for them and invited them to dine with gusto, asking only for a single hour to pray undistrubed. This granted, he stood up and prayed, filled with the grace of the Lord, to the astonishment of those present, many of whom grew distressed that so dignified and godlike a man was going to his death."
How God Uses Resources in Our Lives
I just upload a message from Sunday, July 11 from 1 Kings. You can subscribe, download, or listen from the audio player in the right sidebar. Following the story of how God provided for Elijah, we observe several principles of how God uses resources in our lives:
1. God uses resources in our lives to provide for our needs (vv. 1-6).
2. God uses resources in our lives to direct us (vv. 7-9).
3. God uses resources in our lives to increase fellowship with others (vv. 10-16).
4. God uses resources in our lives to demonstrate his power (vv. 14-16).
Family Picture
Here are the most recent pictures of our family, and also one of Dana and me.
Garden Update
Our garden has done very well this year . . . and so have the weeds. Fortunately, our vegetables have paid little attention to the weeds and just kept right on growing and producing. Here is a basket of our harvest a couple of weeks ago.
Our tomato plants did way better this year than last. Maybe we put some more love into them . . .
Here is a shot of our little country girl, Kathryn.
“Whoever controls the image and information of the past determines what and how future generations will think; whoever controls the information and images of the present determines how those same people will view the past.”~ George Orwell, 1984 (1949)
“Today Christianity is the most successful single phenomenon, statistically considered, in all of history." - Paul L. Maier, “Introduction” in Eusebius; The Church History, 9.
200th Anniversary at Mt. Vernon
I enjoyed being an invited speaker at one of the celebration services of the 200th anniversary of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Raleigh. This is the church my family was a part of while I was in high school. At that time I sensed God's desire for me to minister through preaching and teaching. Fortunately, Pastor Shannon Scott (far left) was willing to allow some of us young guys to preach and get some experience. I spoke last Wednesday night with Jarrod Scott (far right), who was my good friend in high school and roommates throughout college. Jarrod is now pastor of Green Pines Baptist in Knightdale, NC. Jeff Spry (middle-left), a good friend from Mt. Vernon and beyond also spoke. Jeff is an associate pastor at Western Avenue Baptist in Statesville, NC.
