I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sing against you

I had lunch with a friend a couple days ago. During our lunch I was amazed to discover that he had memorized the entire books of Galatians, Ephesians, Phillipians, and Colossians, and Philemon. He wasn't showing off or bragging, he was simply showing how useful and wonderful it can be to have entire sections of scripture memorized. Not only did he know verses, he could get them in the context. I loved it!. It produced a twofold emotional response. I was happy for my brother, and slightly embarrassed that I hadn't attempted to memorize any scripture myself. During this lunch conversation I rememberd a previous desire of mine start memorizing scripture. I also listened to a sermon recently imploring me to take the matter of scripture memorization seriously. So my loyal readers I'm here to annouce that I am going to memroize some. I'm going to take up the daunting task of memorizing Psalm 119. Now for those of you who don't know, Psalm 119 is the largest chapter in the bible, containting 176 verses. The main theme of Psalm 119 is the word of the Lord. This entire chapter is dedicated to expressing our love for God's word. I will post the Psalm for you hear. I could just cut and paste, but I figure it will be better for me to type it out and get it in my head.

Psalm 119: 1 - 32
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who kep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
I will kep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!
How can a young man keep his way pure? by guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin agianst you.
Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statues; I will not forget your word.
Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
I am a sojourner on the earth; hid not your commandments from me!
My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.
Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.
Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statues.
Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!
When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!
I have hcosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!
I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heat!

Expanding my Library

Every now and then I look at my personal Library and feel a pang of guilt about all the books that I own and haven't had the opportunity to read. Part of the reason I haven't read them is I waste my time checking facebook every five minutes to see if anybody commented on my posts or to creep on somebody I haven't talked to in a long time. But after the guilt and remorse subside I leaf through magazines or book reviews and drool over a dozen or more books. Below you will find a list of books along with their prices. If any of you ever want to buy me a gift to say how much I love you, you can get me one of these books!

You can find the following books on Christianbook.com

Calvin's Commentairs, 22 Volumes with Institutes of the Christian Religion ~ $99.99. Normally $1200.00!

Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes ~ $9.99

Forgotten God by Francis Chan ~ $9.99

Doctrine: What Christians should believe by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears ~ 13.79

Classical Teachings on the Nature of God, 3 Volumes in 1 by R.C. Sproul ~ 16.99

Systematic Theoloyg, 4 Volumes by Lewis Sperry Chafer ~ 59.99

The Works of Jonathan Edwards, 2 Volumes ~ 54.99

The Creeds of Christendom, 3 volumes by Philip Schaff ~ 19.99

Foxe's Christian Martyrs, Abridged Edition ~ 3.49

The Early church Fathers, 38 Volumes edited by Philip Schaff & Alexander Roberts ~ only $499.99!

Early Church History Library 3 Volumes: Eusebius; Ecclesiastical History, The Works of Josephus, The Works of Philo ~ 39.99

You can find the following books through libertyfundcatalog.com

The Anti-Federalist Writings of the Melancton Smith Circle edited by Michael Zuckert and Derek A. Webb ~ $14.50

Liberty and Order: The First American Party Struggle edited by Lance Banning ~ $14.50

In Defense of the Constitution by George W. Carey ~ $12.00

Political Sermons of the American Founding Era, 1730 - 1805 2 volumes edited by Ellis Sandoz ~ $27.00

The American Nation: Primary Sources edited by Bruce Frohnen ~ $14.50

A changing of the guard

This past weekend Hannah and I drove four hours up to Camp Joy Bible Camp up in Dent MN. After battling rush hour and summer construction traffic we finally got out of the cities... only to be met by the largest storm I've experienced this summer.

After pulling over for about 10 min. due to heavy rain and hail, we were back on the road! We finally pulled in to camp around 9:30 p.m. It was great to see the familiar wooden sign welcoming me back home. You see, this place has been my summer home for the past six years. Four out of those six, I was there all summer. I guess you could say I spent a large percentage of my teenage and maturing years at this place. The familiar smell of the lake, the booming voice of our director, and the stinging sensation of a mosquito sent my senses into overdrive. I was back... but something was different. It was the same place, and the same people (not to mention the same great food), and yet I didn't feel that familiar sense of belonging. Camp had opened its arms to me, just as it always had done. Only this time, I knew that I was a mere spectator, and not a conductor. It wasn't my place to make decisions, plan activities or be on the inside track. I was supposed to enjoy camp as I had never been allowed to enjoy it before.

This past weekend, whenever something would come up, a good buddy of mine would somewhat jokingly remind me, "It's not my problem." This is going to be a hard lesson for me to learn. Whenever something was going on, I was there trying to get my abnormally large nose involved in some way. But now, somebody else was responsible, some other team was in charge. It wasn't my team, but I think after seeing them at work, it'll be ok. I think I'm finally starting to be ok with "a changing of the guard."