My new babies

I was relaxing this weekend when I got a knock on the door. My neighbors had come over to deliver a package that arrived for me that they had picked up. Inside where my two new babies that I ordered! No, I didn't order human flesh, don't worry. The babies that I'm talking about are my new primary source books from libertyfund! A primary source is a document or other type of medium that was written in the time period in question. For example, a journal entry by George Washington about troop movements would be a primary source. A book written about George Washington, would not be a primary source, it would be a secondary source. Anyways, I'm really excited about these books because they have some fantastic documents that will prove very beneficial for writing papers and expanding my general knowledge about the time period between ratifying the constitution and The War of 1812 which is the first book, and the second book, which highlights key documents between reconstruction years and The New Deal. Below you can find the table of contents for both books.

Liberty and Order: The First American Party Struggle

The American Nation: Primary Sources

Educational woes

I'm going to take a break from writing out Psalm 119 on the blog today. I want to share a couple links to some articles that I have been reading lately.

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/07/06/youtube

This first article is about how a professor was put on a paid leave because of some comments he made during a class lecture on Machiavelli. In The Prince Machiavelli talks about how a leader can successfully seize power. This teacher was presenting his lecture and used a well established interpretation of Machiavelli likening the accumulation of power to the subduing and raping of a woman. While the subject of raping a woman is graphic and disgusting, the imagery serves its purpose in the context of Machiavelli. Apparently a student was offended by the Professors illustration and decided to record and post a segment of the class on youtube. Read the full article and let me know what you think!

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/04/what_happened_to_studying/?page=1

The second article is a fantastically written piece which explores the trend of time students spend studying in institutions of higher learning. It's interesting to note that this trend is spread evenly across the board. I must admit that I do not spend nearly enough time studying. I wonder what my grades would look like if I actually spent 2 hours studying for every hour I spent in class. Anyways read the articles and let me know what you think!

The Law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Psalm 119:33 - 72

Teach me, O LORD the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
Turn away the reproach that i dread, for your rules are good.
Behold I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find delight in your commandments, which I love.
I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.
Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.
When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.
Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.
Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law.
This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.
The LORD is my portion, I promise to keep your words. I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!
You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but no I keep your word.
You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

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."

Unstoppable Focus

Ecclesiastes 2:17
So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

On Sunday the pastor delivered an amazing message. He gave the congregation some understanding of what happens when we lose our focus on what ultimately matters, the glory of our Lord. To check our focus, the pastor gave us three things to look for.

1. Thinking nothing you do ever matters. King Solomon was plagued by these same feelings and wrote Ecclesiasties to try and describe them. He was the richest, wisest person in all of Israel, and he still felt like nothing mattered. He needed a shift in focus. A person can go through their whole life and not grasp an important concept. If everything you do is for yourself, eventually none of it will matter.
2. I'm tired. Look around you. Everywhere you look people cry out from exhaustion. Coffee, tea, energy drinks, caffeine, consumption of these beverages is a modern day sacrement to some people. Why are we so tired? We are over worked and over stressed. My pastor back home would often say the most important thing a Christian need to remember is that the Joy of the Lord is your strength. You lose your joy, you lose your strength. People, the only way to survive in this world with some semblance of sanity is to look upon the joy of the Lord. A hymn written by Helen H. Lemmel captures this idea so perfectly!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full on His wonderful face,
And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

3. Somethings missing. You have that perfect job, a loving family, a good car, vacations to the best places every year, and yet... you want more. How many movies, songs, and stories have been written around this theme? Why is it that humanity is never satisfied with what we have? We need more stuff! We need more accomplishments! Why do we have this need to medicate an emptiness with more possessions? It's because we were created for something more. We were created for something bigger than earthly accomplishments. If you find yourself saying something's missing, it is. I am only 22 years old, and each year I begin to understand this lesson a little more.

If all you ever do is "earthly work" you will always feel like nothing matters, you will always feel tired, and you will constantly be searching for something else. Instead focus on the eternal. Find things that will have significance after you are gone. It is in these tasks that we feel most alive and fulfilled!