Believing God on Election Day

I don't know what I'd do without music at work. Whether it's listening to certain albums, playlists, or just hitting the shuffle button, I crave the melody. It's not only music which I enjoy listening to.

Podcasts are also essential. For those of you who are unaware of what a podcast is, Wikipedia defines them as:

A podcast is a series of audio or video digital-media files which is distributed over the Internet by syndicated download, through Web feeds, to portable media players and personal computers.

Basically, it's a radio show subscription. When a new show is available my iTunes will download it.

Some of the regular podcasts I'm currently enjoying are: ESPN fantasy football, 93X morning sports update, Pastor Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill church) sermons, and Pastor John Piper's (Bethlehem Baptist church) sermons.

With the election upon us, one of Mr. Piper's sermon's from a previous election (Bush vs. Dukakis) titled "Believing God on Election Day" was posted. The message is just as relevant today as it was then. After all, when you're preaching from God's Word, it's always current.

Preaching from Daniel 4:28–37, the following is taken from that sermon:

God Will Choose the President on Tuesday

2 Things That Does Not Mean

1. It doesn't mean, don't bother voting. God will choose the president by choosing who votes. If you want to be an instrument in His hand, vote. If you don't, then don't. Don't ever draw the conclusion from the sovereignty of God that inactivity is rational, it is irrational.
2. The second thing it does not mean is that God will approve of the policies of the man that gets elected. This is extrodinarily crucial to understand. The sovereign rule of God over sinful man is no endorsement of their deeds. Stor that away as it applies to a dozen areas of life. His (God's) purposes are very strange (to us).

2 Things That Does Mean

1. It means that the winner should not boast. He should not be like Nebuchadnezzar at state one who said 'by my power, by my ingenuity', I've gotten myself this Presidency. If he does, let us weep and pray.
2. You and I, whether our candidate gets elected or not, should be mightily confident and encouraged that God reigns and His purposes will be accomplished in this world. Every knee will bow and every tounge confess someday that Jesus, and nobody else, is Lord.

Also, here is John with a four minute "talk" summarizing his "Let Christians Vote as Though They Were Not Voting" blog post.



I found Mr. Piper's words extremely encouraging. As, if I let myself, can make too big of deal of the election. After all, no matter who is President, God reigns!

—b

Revenge of the Ref!

The following clip is from the LSU vs South Carolina game this past Saturday. Now typically it's the referee who is the one who gets hit. Behold the referee's revenge!



Could it be the ref has had enough badgering and decided to take matters in his own hands? Or did LSU dress one of their own players in a referee's outfit? For all we know, there could be a poor college referee tied up and gagged in a locker somewhere. Has anyone heard a "Zebra Alert" being issued recently? (If you got that last reference, I'm impressed.)

Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday!

—b

Congrats Danae & Scott!

Last night Erin got a call from her sister Danae. Nothing out of the ordinary, but when I heard a "What! Bernt, you talk to your sister-in-law!", I was pretty sure what was coming up next. Naener told me the news, her long time boyfriend Scott had just proposed to her. (She said "yes" by the way.) ;)

I think we knew it was coming but it still hit us like a punch from Derrek Boogaard. They have been friends if not dating for a couple of years now so it really shouldn't have hit that hard. I think, for Erin, is her sister has grown up. It doesn't seem real that her sister could be engaged. It makes Erin feel old. Although I should feel ancient by that standard since Danae was born the same year the Minnesota Twins won their first World Series, 1987. (That's the only reason I can remember her birthyear.)

Anyway, congratulations you two! Once we get over the initial shock, it'll seem more real.


For you Riddler's out there...

A man was found murdered on Sunday morning. His wife immediately called the police. The police questioned the wife and staff and got these alibis:

• >The Wife said she was sleeping.
• >The Cook was cooking breakfast.
• >The Gardener was picking vegetables.
• >The Maid was getting the mail.
• >The Butler was cleaning the closet.

The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?

Click on the comments to see the answer.

—b

A Class Divided

One day in 1968, Jane Elliott, a teacher in a small, all-white Iowa town, divided her third grade class into blue-eyed and brown-eyed groups and gave them a daring lesson in discrimination. This is the story of that lesson, its lasting impact on the children, and its enduring power thirty years later.

I had heard and read about this about a year ago. Some people think it's a great idea while others don't agree with how it's carried out. I can't say I'm all for what Jane did but it sure is interesting. If you have the time (about 30 minutes total) this is an interesting watch.

Below is a lower quality YouTube version and the other other four links. But you can view the higher quality, updated version by visiting the official Frontline site by clicking here.

Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4 • Part 5

What did you think when you watched this? Had you heard of this earlier?

Enjoy your Tuesday night!

—b

The Christian Radio Test

This morning I took our Buick (Josey) to get her oil changed. Every time I bring a vehicle into get looked at, I always like to perform the "Christian Radio Test".

Whether I happen to be listening to the local Christian radio station (KTIS) or not, I always make sure to have the KTIS playing (on a low volume) when I leave the car. Parts of me thinks it might have a positive effect on whom ever turns the car on next, another part of me likes to plug Christian radio (even if they don't necessarily play my taste), but for the most part, I like to see if when I get back in the car, what's playing on the radio.

I would think because the mechanic isn't in the vehicle for very long, they'd leave it be. I have the same mentality when it comes to my seat/steering wheel settings. For the most part, they aren't in the interior of the vehicle to do any work, it's all under the hood. So why should any settings be changed by the time I get back in.

I have been doing this unofficial test for a few years now, and 99.99% of the time, the radio is either turned off, or has been switched to another station. The only exception has been when that particular service station was playing KTIS in the background of their garage.

This morning was no different. By the time I got back in, the Twin Cities classic rock station was playing. I can't say I blame them...but why change the station of someone elses car?

Am I wrong in thinking that's odd? I purposely turn the volume down low enough so that it can still be heard but shouldn't be a distraction. My seat/steering wheel settings have never changed, why the radio? The only thing I can think of concerning the radio being turned off is that it may be a company policy. But actually turning the radio to a different station?

I'm tempted to start leaving the station on a classic rock or something "safe" to see what the results are.

Enjoy your weekend...no matter what you're listening to! ;)

—b