Monday, September 12, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Real Male Leadership at home: Always Apologize First
(HT: Vit Z)
Barnabas Piper:
I occasionally get asked for advice about being a new husband or a first time dad. Since I got married young and had kids young I have “experience”, I guess. By “experience”, of course, I mean battle scars and bruises from my regular encounters with my own idiocy and penchant for mistakes. I must look like a weathered veteran or something.
When the question is put to me “what piece of advice would you give to a new husband/dad” I always want to come up with something that would make Solomon jealous and Confucius plagiarize. Instead, all I have ever been able to come up with is this: “Always apologize first.”
Somewhere along the way I was given this piece of advice (or pieces of advice that added up to it) by a particularly wise counselor, and it has been an astoundingly prescient word by which to live. It falls under the banner of “A soft answer turns away wrath.” It enforces humility and self-examination. And it douses the flames that threaten to burn bridges between wife and husband or father and children.
Barnabas Piper:
I occasionally get asked for advice about being a new husband or a first time dad. Since I got married young and had kids young I have “experience”, I guess. By “experience”, of course, I mean battle scars and bruises from my regular encounters with my own idiocy and penchant for mistakes. I must look like a weathered veteran or something.
When the question is put to me “what piece of advice would you give to a new husband/dad” I always want to come up with something that would make Solomon jealous and Confucius plagiarize. Instead, all I have ever been able to come up with is this: “Always apologize first.”
Somewhere along the way I was given this piece of advice (or pieces of advice that added up to it) by a particularly wise counselor, and it has been an astoundingly prescient word by which to live. It falls under the banner of “A soft answer turns away wrath.” It enforces humility and self-examination. And it douses the flames that threaten to burn bridges between wife and husband or father and children.
For your Weekend Enjoyment!
Calvin and the Snowmen:
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
(HT: Trevin Wax)
(Click on the Images to see a bigger version: Or, just click on the link above to see them on Trevin Wax's blog)
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
(HT: Trevin Wax)
(Click on the Images to see a bigger version: Or, just click on the link above to see them on Trevin Wax's blog)
Friday, September 2, 2011
Thou art coming to a King! Wow!
John Newton
Come, my soul, thy case prepare
Jesus loves to answer prayer
He Himself has bid thee pray
Therefore will not say thee nay
Thou art coming to a King
Large petitions with thee bring
For His grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much
(HT: Dane Ortlund)
Come, my soul, thy case prepare
Jesus loves to answer prayer
He Himself has bid thee pray
Therefore will not say thee nay
Thou art coming to a King
Large petitions with thee bring
For His grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much
(HT: Dane Ortlund)
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Our latest family photo (22/8/2011)
We are now planning to photoshop out the background, and get this printed
Monday, August 22, 2011
Enough to Feel Guilty, But Not Enough to Be Happy
Ray Ortlund, Sr. to his son, Ray Ortlund, Jr.:
“Listen, son. Half-hearted Christians are the most miserable people of all. They know enough to feel guilty, but they haven’t gone far enough with Christ to be happy. Be wholehearted for him!”
(HT: Pure Church)
“Listen, son. Half-hearted Christians are the most miserable people of all. They know enough to feel guilty, but they haven’t gone far enough with Christ to be happy. Be wholehearted for him!”
(HT: Pure Church)
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Five Ways to Make God Known at Work
John Piper in 1988:
I have in mind at least five things—five ways to make God known through your secular job and all of them are important. When one of them is missing, the witness to the truth of Christ suffers.
1. The excellence of the products or services you render in your job shows the excellence and greatness of God.
2. The standards of integrity you follow at your job show the integrity and holiness of God.
3. The love you show to people in your job shows the love of God.
4. The stewardship of the money you make from your job shows the value of God compared to other things.
5. The verbal testimony you give to the reality of Christ shows the doorway to all these things in your life and their possibility in the lives of others.Excerpted from "Tentmakers" in Minneapolis.
(HT: Desiring God)
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Less Like Scars, More Like Character
It's been a hard year
But I'm climbing out of the rubble
These lessons are hard
Healing changes are subtle
But every day it's
Less like tearing, more like building
Less like captive, more like willing
Less like breakdown, more like surrender
Less like haunting, more like remember
Less like a prison, more like my room
It's less like a casket, more like a womb
Less like dying, more like transcending
Less like fear, less like an ending
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like
Character
By Sara Groves from the album All Right Here
(HT:Josh Harris)
But I'm climbing out of the rubble
These lessons are hard
Healing changes are subtle
But every day it's
Less like tearing, more like building
Less like captive, more like willing
Less like breakdown, more like surrender
Less like haunting, more like remember
Less like a prison, more like my room
It's less like a casket, more like a womb
Less like dying, more like transcending
Less like fear, less like an ending
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like
Character
By Sara Groves from the album All Right Here
(HT:Josh Harris)
Friday, August 19, 2011
I'm Back!
It has been quite a while since I did any serious blogging. As you all know, I have been very busy with work for the past three months. In addition, I had an exam on August 1st.
But, I must say, the main deterrent to blogging has been the depression of having lost all our photos and videos when our computer crashed. I had saved the photos taken before December 2010 on a disk, but had not gotten around to saving the photos taken subsequently. This has been a terrible loss.
I have begun saving the photos and videos taken after May 2011. I have also uploaded a number of photos on a new Flickr page. Some of the older photos can be seen on the older Flickr page.
Here is one beautiful photo taken by a student at CMC, that has survived.
I have made an important change at the blog, and would like to know what you think about it.
I have now set things up so that a copy of every post and comment on this blog will be delivered to our gmail inboxes. I am doing this in the hope that each of us will be aware of all that is being posted and be able to particpate more in this blog.
At the rate things are going, I don't think our inboxes are likely to be flooded, but do let me know if you feel that is a concern. I, personally, would love to have my inbox flooded with stuff from each of you!
I am looking forward to blogging more over the next few days while at Delhi.
But, I must say, the main deterrent to blogging has been the depression of having lost all our photos and videos when our computer crashed. I had saved the photos taken before December 2010 on a disk, but had not gotten around to saving the photos taken subsequently. This has been a terrible loss.
I have begun saving the photos and videos taken after May 2011. I have also uploaded a number of photos on a new Flickr page. Some of the older photos can be seen on the older Flickr page.
Here is one beautiful photo taken by a student at CMC, that has survived.
I have made an important change at the blog, and would like to know what you think about it.
I have now set things up so that a copy of every post and comment on this blog will be delivered to our gmail inboxes. I am doing this in the hope that each of us will be aware of all that is being posted and be able to particpate more in this blog.
At the rate things are going, I don't think our inboxes are likely to be flooded, but do let me know if you feel that is a concern. I, personally, would love to have my inbox flooded with stuff from each of you!
I am looking forward to blogging more over the next few days while at Delhi.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
A path worn by the feet of many pilgrims
“Thousands and tens of thousands have sought for pardon at the mercy-seat of Christ, and not one has ever returned to say that he sought in vain. Sinners of every name and nation—sinners of every sort and description—have knocked at the door of the fold, and none have ever been refused admission.
If the way which the Gospel sets before us were a new and untraveled way—we might well feel faint-hearted. But it is not so. It is an old path. It is a path worn by the feet of many pilgrims, and a path in which the footsteps are all one way. The treasury of Christ’s mercies has never been found empty. The well of living waters has never proved dry.”
— J.C. Ryle
"Forgiveness"
(HT: Of First Importance)
Monday, April 18, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Speak, Lord, and give me understanding
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
I am your servant.
Give me understanding that I may know your ordinances.
Incline my heart to your commands.
Let your speech distill as the dew.
The children of Israel once said to Moses:
“Speak to us and we will hear you. Don’t let the Lord speak to us, lest we die.”
Not so, Lord, not so do I pray.
Rather with Samuel the prophet I entreat humbly and earnestly:
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
Do not let Moses or any of the prophets speak to me;
but you speak, O Lord God, who inspired and enlightened all the prophets;
for you alone, without them, can instruct me perfectly,
whereas they, without you, can do nothing.
They, indeed, utter fine words,
but they cannot impart the spirit.
They do indeed speak beautifully,
but if you remain silent they cannot inflame the heart.
They deliver the message;
you lay bare the sense.
They place before us mysteries,
but you unlock their meaning.
They proclaim commandments;
you help us to keep them.
They point out the way;
you give strength for the journey.
They work only outwardly;
you instruct and enlighten our hearts.
They water on the outside;
you give the increase.
They cry out words;
You give understanding to the hearer.
- Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ (adapted)
(HT: Trevin Wax)
Monday, April 11, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
This is a pretty shocking and convicting article on tithing.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/december/10.24.html?start=1
Saturday, March 5, 2011
cute picture of Ashish with the girls....
They are growing so fast and are so delightful. I just find so much joy and fulfillment in my days thanks to them. God has been so good to us; we are so thankful!
Love,
juliana for all of us
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Kimyal people receice the New Testament
A powerful video of the Kimyal People Group in Indonesia receiving the New Testament for the first time in their language. Watching their excitement and joy moved me to tears as I reflected on how little I value the Bible myself
(HT: Z)
(HT: Z)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Today's assassination
I don't know if you've heard about Pakistan's Minority Affairs Minister who was assassinated today. It seems he was a Christian, and was killed because he opposed the infamous blasphemy law. BBC has an interview with him from 4 months ago, when he talks about his faith, and his willingness to die for his convictions.
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